The driver was not hurt, while a juvenile found nearby was hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening.
WASHINGTON — Gunfire struck an occupied vehicle near Washington Hospital Center early Tuesday as an overnight shooting left a juvenile wounded and sent police searching for three masked young people reportedly traveling on a scooter.
The vehicle was moving near Michigan Avenue and 1st Street in Northwest Washington when it was hit, police said. The adult driver, who was the only person inside, was not injured. Authorities did not say how many bullets hit the vehicle or whether investigators believed it was an intended target.
Police received the shooting report at about 1:12 a.m. Officers responding to the area found a juvenile male conscious and breathing with an apparent gunshot wound. D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services took him to a hospital, where his injuries were described as not life-threatening.
The shooting brought a large police response to the streets surrounding the hospital complex. Crime scene tape lined Michigan Avenue as officers searched the roadway and nearby grounds for evidence. Additional resources were called to assist in the search for a gun.
Investigators focused on an area near a hospital entrance, where a scooter was found on the ground. Police believed the wounded juvenile fell near that location, although officials did not explain whether he had been riding the scooter before the shooting.
Authorities issued a lookout for three juvenile males seen traveling together on a scooter. Police said they were dressed in black and wearing masks. No further descriptions were released, and investigators did not announce whether surveillance video had captured the group.
Police had not said where the gunfire originated, how many shots were fired or whether the juvenile and the vehicle were struck by the same person. Officials also had not released information about a possible motive or events immediately preceding the shooting.
The incident remained under investigation. No arrests had been reported, and police continued working to identify the three juveniles and locate the weapon believed to have been used.
Author note: Last updated July 21, 2026.