Homicide investigation after man dies outside Kennedy Center

DC Police give update on man found dead outside Kennedy Center

DC Police Chief Robert Contee says a man was found dead outside the Kennedy Center with trauma wounds on Friday morning, but they are still investigating his cause of death.

WASHINGTON - Authorities are investigating a homicide after a man was stabbed to death outside the Kennedy Center in Northwest D.C early Friday morning.

Police say they responded to a call that was initially reported as a shooting around 7:30 a.m. in the 2700 block of F Street. When officers arrived they found the victim - 35-year-old Thomas Washington, of Southeast, DC. - unconscious and unresponsive at the scene.

D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee spoke with FOX 5's Bob Barnard telling him the victim appeared to have suffered some type of trauma and said he is uncertain if he was shot. By Friday night, police had discovered Washington was stabbed to death.

Contee said some of Washington's injuries appeared to have been recent and other injuries appeared to have been in the healing stages.

Contee said the man appeared to have walked from Rock Creek Parkway to an area near the Kennedy Center parking garage where a parking garage worker spotted him and went to his aid. Emergency crews responded, but the man died at the scene.

Man shot, killed outside Kennedy Center

Authorities are investigating after a man was shot and killed outside of the Kennedy Center in northwest D.C.

Officers say the area where the Southeast native was found is located just outside the Kennedy Center and across the street from The Watergate complex.

Police closed traffic along southbound Rock Creek Parkway and diverted vehicles to Virginia Avenue. Contee said investigators will search for security cameras that may have captured video of what happened.

After the incident, the Kennedy Center released the following statement to FOX 5:

Earlier this morning, there was an incident near the Kennedy Center. Due to the ongoing police investigation, access to the Level B and C North parking garage entrances are closed and the surrounding area is restricted. There is no active security threat. All performances are going on as planned, however please allow extra time when traveling to the Center today. The safety and security of our patrons, artists, staff, and community is of the utmost importance and the Kennedy Center continues to assist with local authorities.

A $25,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest.

This is a developing story. Stay with us for updates.

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