A deadly chain of events in Washington, D.C. Tuesday morning ended with a murder suspect being shot and killed by police aboard a Metrobus after fleeing the scene of a fatal shooting, authorities said.
Police later identified the victim of the initial shooting as 44-year-old Melissa Wallace-Pulliam of Northwest Washington. The suspect was identified as 44-year-old Shawn Dewayne Williams of Southeast Washington.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, the violence began in the 3600 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW near the Washington Ballet studio, where a man armed with what investigators described as a “long gun” shot and killed Wallace-Pulliam before fleeing the area.
Authorities say the suspect then boarded a Metrobus near Porter Street NW as officers quickly worked to track his movements through the city. Investigators located the bus and conducted a stop in the 4000 block of Wisconsin Avenue just before 7:30 a.m.
As officers began evacuating passengers, they reportedly observed a man matching the suspect’s description reaching into a bag. Despite repeated commands to comply, police say he pulled out a firearm and pointed it toward officers. Officers then opened fire, fatally striking him on the bus.
Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said several passengers were still on board during the confrontation, though most had already been safely evacuated before shots were fired. He also noted the suspect’s firearm contained an extended magazine, increasing the potential danger to those at the scene.
A video obtained exclusively by WUSA9 reportedly captured the sound of gunfire as passengers exited the bus, with some seen raising their hands while evacuating.
Authorities confirmed the suspect and victim were in a domestic relationship, and investigators said the suspect had a prior arrest history involving domestic-related incidents.
Multiple streets in the surrounding area, including near City Ridge, were temporarily shut down as police secured the scene and conducted their investigation.
The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation by the Internal Affairs Bureau’s Force Investigations Team, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. The United States Attorney’s Office will also conduct an independent review of the incident.
