DC officer shoots and misses armed suspect, taser fails during domestic call, police say

WASHINGTON (7News) — A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer shot at an armed suspect early Saturday morning during a domestic disturbance call and missed, and another officer's taser failed to work, according to officials. The officer who fired their weapon has been placed on administrative leave as part of MPD policy for officer-involved shootings.

Police arrived in the 600 block of Newton Place, NW, around 2:20 a.m. to help de-escalate a domestic situation, but that's when 43-year-old Nashell Sowells pulled out a gun, MPD said. One officer fired, but Sowells was not struck.

She began threatening to harm herself and started getting closer to the officers. The accompanying officer tried to taser her, but the equipment failed to work, officials said.

Both officers were able to arrest Sowells without incident. She was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm and ammunition, simple assault, possession of a controlled substance, and destruction of property, according to MPD.