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D.C. police detective shot in attempted carjacking, search underway for those involved

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON — An off-duty D.C. police detective was shot early Wednesday morning during an attempted carjacking and another off-duty was attacked, and a search is underway for people involved.

A Metropolitan Police Department detective is in stable condition after being shot multiple times near the Suitland Parkway at about 2:50 a.m. The suspects attempted to steal the detective’s vehicle, shot the detective and then fled the scene in a burgundy Nissan Altima with New York plates, according to MPD Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

“They opened fire on his car and then started ramming the car,” Lanier says, adding that at this point, “it doesn’t appear that the detective ever had a time to fire back.”

Police say the same group of people who fired at the detective fired shots at another off-duty officer in Southeast Washington Wednesday morning as well, according to The Washington Post. The other off-duty officer was not injured.

The two shootings came during a sudden surge in gun violence in D.C. Since Friday, at least 21 people have shot, including seven overnight Wednesday.

One person is in police custody following a wild chase that went into Prince George’s County, returned to D.C. near RFK Stadium and then continued to Northeast D.C., Lanier says. At some point during the chase, at least two people fled on foot and police are still searching for them.

On Wednesday evening, police identified the arrested suspect as 27-year-old Romeo Hayes of Southwest, according to The Post. He was charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill.

Lanier says police are searching D.C. and Prince George’s County for the other suspects.

The detective — whose name has not yet been released — is out of surgery and is in stable condition.

Police have the Altima and are seeking information about any other people who may be involved.

There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. If you have information, call police at 202-727-9099.

The search led to street closures through rush hour. All lanes of the roads reopened by 11:10 a.m.

Below is a map with the location of the staging area:

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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