D.C. Police Officer's Weapon Linked to Violent Crimes

WASHINGTON -- A gun reported missing by a D.C. Police officer has now been linked to several attempted murders that have left at least one victim hospitalized.

"We have connected it to a couple of shootings and I believe, a robbery -- a couple of them were assault with attempt to kill," D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey said on Washington Post Radio's Ask The Chief program on Thursday.

The officer reported the gun missing in January, and the weapon was used in several shootings were victims were wounded, Ramsey said.

The officer -- a lieutenant in the 4th District -- was suspended for 30 days for losing her weapon, Ramsey said.

Police recovered the gun during an investigation of the escape of two inmates from the D.C. Jail.

A separate investigation will determine the accuracy of the officer's account of the stolen gun, Ramsey said.

"Maybe it wasn't stolen. We just need to look into it. We may never know," Ramsey said.

However, the officer with the missing weapon was not involved in the shootings or the jail escape, Ramsey said.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested at the home where the gun was recovered and charged with possession of a stolen weapon, Ramsey said.

Sources tell WTOP the shootings may have been gang related.

Also on Ask The Chief, Ramsey said he's taken action against two officers who failed to follow proper procedure during the murder investigation of New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum.

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