Teen girl, man shot in Northeast DC

WASHINGTON - A 17-year-old girl and a man were shot in Northeast D.C. Thursday afternoon, but police say they were not the intended targets.

The shooting took place at around 3:30 p.m. at Saratoga Avenue and Montana Avenue. The female victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition while the other victim is expected to recover.

The teenage girl and the man were struck in the crossfire intended for someone else while they were traveling in a white car crossing the intersection. There was a third person inside the vehicle, but was not hit. Their car crashed into a parked SUV on the street before the victims were shot.

Police say the intended target of the shooting escaped unharmed.

Police initially issued a lookout for two black males, but later stated that they are unsure how many suspects were involved. However, police say they are searching for a gold or light-colored Honda Accord that the suspects are believed to have gotten into after the shooting.

Multiple units of the forensics team and a K-9 unit responded to investigate the scene.

A resident said there is frequent gunfire in this neighborhood and she feels that police along with private security at her housing complex are not doing enough.

"I heard gunshots driving past my window and I had to go inside the kitchen and get on the floor," said Maya Smith. "This is not the first time this has happened. Fifteen minutes prior to this shooting, I was informed that they were shooting up the street. No one came. No police officers came on the scene. No security guards came around, but they were informed. If you're informed of a prior shooting, all hands should totally be on deck, which was not the case."

Police denied that officers did not respond to the neighborhood earlier in the day for a reported incident. D.C. Police Capt. David Sledge said they did receive a call about a report of a man with a gun along with shots fired. However, when officers responded to the scene, spoke with witnesses and canvassed the area, they were unable to locate anyone.

"If there is a citizen that says officers are not getting out of their cars and patrolling, have them call the police department and talk to a supervisor," said D.C. Police Capt. David Sledge.