Holly MatkinWashington, DC – The retired DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) lieutenant who fatally shot a District of Columbia Public Library Office of Public Safety (DCPLOPS) special officer during a training session at the Anacostia Neighborhood Library last year has been indicted for murder.
Retired MPD Lieutenant Jesse Porter was indicted on May 10 on charges of second-degree murder while armed, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with the August 8, 2022 shooting death of DCPLOPS Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan, WTTG reported.
Special Officer Manyan, 25, was participating in an Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) baton training class when the incident occurred.
Porter was the instructor.
He faces up to 24 years in prison if he is convicted, according to WTTG.
Special Officer Manyan’s family said in a statement one day after the indictment that they are thankful for the grand jury’s decision, but that the District of Columbia should have done more to ensure the tragic shooting never occurred in the first place, WTTG reported.
“The family is still disgusted by the lack of accountability from the District of Columbia,” said their attorney, Chelsea Lewis. “The fact that the district would allow Porter’s company to engage with its own employees without even taking the time to verify insurance coverage is extremely disheartening and should strike fear in the hearts of the employees and citizens of this District.”
“The Manyan Family deserves to know the truth about what happened to Officer Manyan and why the district failed to follow its own policies regarding liability insurance,” Lewis added.
Her name was Maurica Manyan, a special police officer in D.C. She was shot and killed in a tragic training incident. Rest Easy Sister. Prayers for her family of blue and blood.#podcast #radio #talkradio #talkshow #police #Sheriff #Trooper #TrueCrime #trauma #PTS #PTSD pic.twitter.com/nJWju9VF2I
— John J Wiley (@JohnWil21815218) August 6, 2022
The fatal shooting occurred inside the Anacostia Neighborhood Library on Good Hope Road Southeast at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2022, WTOP reported at the time.
MPD Chief Robert Contee said the department received a report of a shooting and responded to find a female DCPLOPS officer unconscious and suffering from a gunshot wound, according to WJLA.
Special Officer Manyan was rushed to an area hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police said Porter, who retired from the MPD two years before the incident, was working as a professional instructor conducting training sessions for current law enforcement officers, according to WJLA.
According to court documents, Porter told investigators that he and a group of approximately five trainees were “joking around” as they gathered to take a picture after wrapping up the ASP training session at the library that day.
Just before they took the photo, Officer Manyan stopped them so she could remove her facemask, according to court documents.
As her classmates jokingly teased her, Porter pulled his gun from his holster and fired at her, striking her in her chest, WTOP reported.
The incident was captured by a security camera.
“I thought I had my training gun,” Porter told the first officer who arrived at the scene. “Why did I do this? Is she OK?”
The video showed Porter and multiple trainees as they administered CPR on the wounded officer immediately after the shooting, WTOP reported.
Police said Porter “appeared distraught and very remorseful,” according to court documents.
Others who participated in the training told police that Porter had pointed an orange training gun at Officer Manyan earlier in the day after the special officer made a funny comment, WTOP reported.
One witness said the instructor “appeared to be playing around” and that he often does so to “not make the training dry,” according to court documents.
Chief Contee said the instructor and trainees were all taken to the MPD’s homicide office for interviews, WJLA reported.
Porter declined to answer detectives’ questions, according to WTOP.
Chief Contee said shortly after the incident that it was ““not good practice” to have live weapons at training sessions, WJLA reported.
“I don’t have answers as to why the firearm was at the ASP baton training,” he said.
He said the shooting was “tragic” and “unfortunate,” WTOP reported.
“My condolences to the family of the deceased library police officer and to their entire agency,” Chief Contee said.
Special Officer Manyan joined the DCPLOPS in February of 2022, the DC Public Library said in a press release shortly after her death.
Her son was just four years old when she was killed, WUSA reported.
