Holly MatkinWashington, DC – A District of Columbia Public Library Office of Public Safety (DCPLOPS) officer was fatally shot while attending a training session at the Anacostia Neighborhood Library on Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred inside the library on Good Hope Road Southeast at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 4, WTOP reported.
DC Metropolitan Police Department (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.
She was rushed to an area hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The MPD identified the fallen hero as 25-year-old DCPLOPS Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan on Friday, according to The Washington Post.
Investigators determined the special police officer was one of six people who were participating in an Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) baton training inside a large room at the library that day, WTOP reported.
The training was led by a police lieutenant who retired from the MPD two years ago, according to Chief Contee.
The retired lieutenant said he is now a professional trainer and that he conducts training sessions for current law enforcement officers, according to WJLA.
He was later identified as 58-year-old Jesse Porter, The Washington Post reported.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the trainer fired a gun at the end of the class, striking Officer Manyan, WTOP reported.
The chief told reporters that a full investigation is ongoing and that the initial findings are preliminary, but he noted that it is “not good practice” to have live weapons at training sessions.
“I don’t have answers as to why the firearm was at the ASP baton training,” he said, according to WJLA.
He said the incident was “tragic” and “unfortunate,” WTOP reported.
“My condolences to the family of the deceased library police officer and to their entire agency,” the chief said.
Chief Contee said the MPD would be working with the U.S. attorney’s office to determine how to move forward with the case, according to WJLA.
The instructor and trainees were all taken to the MPD’s homicide office for interviews, the chief said.
MPD Spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck announced on Friday that Porter has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Officer Manyan’s death, The Washington Post reported.
He remained in custody on Friday morning.
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CORRECTION: This article originally indicated Officer Manyan worked for the DC Metro Special Police Department. It has been corrected to reflect she was actually a member of the District of Columbia Public Library Office of Public Safety.
