Twenty people were shot in Washington DC overnight on Sunday (August 9) including a teenage boy who died after gunfire broke out during a neighborhood street party where hundreds of people had gathered, the city's police chief said.
"There were certainly way too many people out here, you know, with the COVID-19. It was a huge gathering," Police Chief Peter Newsham told reporters during a Sunday morning news conference at the scene of the shooting in Southeast Washington.
Police reported to a shooting around 12:20 am local time at what some local media described as an annual block party 'cook-out'.
Washington DC is under limited COVID stay-at-home measures during its phased reopening including a ban on public groups larger than 50 people.
"When we say that we can't have large events, is to keep the entire community safe," Mayor Muriel Bowser said at the news conference.
An off duty female police officer was among the injured and was facing grave life threatening injuries, Newsham said.
The dead 17-year-old's mother was at the scene on Sunday morning and told reporters she was numb with shock and grief.
"I really don't understand how my child's life is just gone," Artecka Brown told reporters.
Production: Mana Rabiee
