Gunfire erupted near Fifth and N streets NW late Friday, police said.
WASHINGTON, DC — Police are searching for multiple suspects after five men were shot at about 9:20 p.m. Friday near the intersection of Fifth and N streets NW in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. Officers found three victims at the scene; two others arrived at a hospital on their own. All are expected to survive, authorities said.
The shooting, the city’s largest by victim count in weeks, unfolded a day after Christmas within walking distance of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Investigators say the attack does not appear random and are seeking a black Honda Accord with D.C. tags seen leaving the area. Detectives canvassed the block for security video and interviewed witnesses as the Metropolitan Police Department worked through the weekend without announcing arrests.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire at Fifth and N streets NW around 9:20 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26. Three victims were located “conscious and breathing,” according to initial police information, and were transported by D.C. Fire and EMS. Two additional wounded men later showed up at a hospital. By early Saturday, police had taped off the 1200 block of Fifth Street NW, where a corner market’s glass was pocked by bullet holes. “Something crazy must have happened,” said Sean Campbell, who lives nearby. “We knew it must have been some sort of shooting.” Neighbors described a swift police response and flashing lights lining the block.
Investigators said the attackers fled in a black Honda Accord with D.C. license plates, last seen heading from the 1200 block of Fifth Street NW. Police have not released ages or identities of the victims, and a motive remains under investigation. Detectives believe the shooting was targeted based on early evidence but did not provide specifics. Residents pointed to a city surveillance camera mounted at the corner and to private security systems on nearby homes and businesses that could aid the case. As of Sunday morning, no arrests had been announced and police had not said how many rounds were fired.
The location sits amid rowhouses and small businesses just north of New York Avenue and a short walk from Dunbar High School, in an area that has seen high-profile violence this year. In June, gunfire a block away at M and Seventh streets NW killed congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym and injured bystanders; suspects were later charged in that case. Citywide, police officials have emphasized targeted disputes as drivers of recent shootings even as they maintain an expanded presence from a federal law enforcement surge launched in late summer. Friday’s shooting was among the few incidents in recent months to leave five people wounded at once.
Police said detectives were canvassing hospitals, collecting shell casings and reviewing video from city and private cameras. The department circulated a lookout for multiple suspects tied to the black sedan and asked anyone with information to contact investigators. Authorities did not immediately announce a reward. Officials have not scheduled a public briefing but said updates would be released as significant developments occur. If arrests are made, charging documents would outline the alleged roles of any suspects and detail the evidence behind the case.
Neighbors who awoke to patrol cars and yellow tape described a jolt to a busy corner where people gather outside the 5th Street Market. “Groups of six to 10 can be seen hanging out here,” said Aaron Gould, who lives on the block. He said he watched National Guard soldiers patrol the area Saturday morning while workers swept glass from the sidewalk. Other residents expressed sympathy for store employees and concern for weekend foot traffic near churches and apartment buildings. “I feel for the families of the people who got injured,” Gould said.
By Sunday, police still had not released a suspect description beyond the dark sedan and had not said whether the victims knew one another. The investigation continues, with the next update expected as detectives collect and analyze surveillance footage from the corridor.
Author note: Last updated December 28, 2025.