What should have been an ordinary afternoon at the QuikTrip on 32nd and L Streets turned into a chaotic police emergency that left the neighborhood shaken. Shoppers pulled in for gas or snacks, never expecting gunfire or a standoff — least of all officers ambushed inside a bathroom.
The first calls came just after lunch: multiple officers rushing to the QT, sirens blaring, lights flashing through the winter haze. Nearby residents watched in disbelief as squad cars blocked the lot and officers took positions. Panic escalated quickly when it was reported that two officers had been shot.
Police later confirmed the suspect was dead and the officers would survive. The man who died was believed to have been involved in an earlier shooting at Phil’s Foodway, where a man in his fifties had been seriously injured around noon. Officers tracked the suspect to the QT, where he hid in the restroom — and opened fire immediately upon confrontation.
Inside the store, customers and employees scrambled for cover. Some hid behind shelves or in the freezer; others locked themselves in cars or ran out the back. Outside, neighbors looked on, trying to make sense of the violence unfolding in what had been a routine stop.
Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and reconstructing the timeline linking the two shootings. Questions remain about whether the suspect acted alone, why he chose the QT, and what prompted the attack on officers.
Police presence has remained heavy, with forensic teams examining every inch of the scene. Employees described the chaos as terrifying, while community members expressed a mix of relief, grief, and anger — relief that no civilians were injured, grief over the death of the suspect, and frustration that public spaces feel unsafe.
Chief Schmaderer emphasized that the officers’ quick actions prevented further harm. Two officers are recovering, one suspect is dead, and the investigation continues. The QT now stands as a stark reminder of how quickly an ordinary day can erupt into violence, leaving a neighborhood grappling with shock and unanswered questions.