Looking up 8th Street from Taylor, where the shooting occured. (photo: ANC Commissioner Kim Varzi)

by Yuliya Panfil

Multiple gunshots were fired in the early afternoon of Saturday, February 1st in front of the Petworth Playground at the Petworth Recreation Center. The gunfire left one man in the hospital, and multiple parents and children hiding under the playground equipment.

The shooting occurred just after 12:30pm on 8th Street between Taylor and Upshur Streets. According to reports, two men were walking down 8th Street when a car pulled up and then shots fired.

A 19-year old man was shot in the foot and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. MPD Fourth District Commander Randy Griffin said police are attempting to locate a vehicle of interest regarding the incident, described as a red Kia Soul.

According to Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, the assailants and victim knew one another and this was an intentional hit.

"According to MPD it was completely targeted, and they were known to each other," Todd wrote in an email. "They feel they have very strong leads and one of the guy[s] is being cooperative."

Todd said he has asked MPD and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to increase their presence in the immediate area.

The ANC 4C07 Commissioner Kim Varzi’s Facebook page gave a detailed account of what happened, including that the victim had run into Dannie's carryout at 830 Upshur Street to call the cops. "Our friends were at the playground at the time and were shaken up, for good reason," the Facebook post read.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099.

Note: This article has been updated to remove the exchange of words between victim and shooter, as MPD can not confirm that report.