WASHINGTON - D.C. police say two officers were wounded and a man was killed in a shootout early Saturday in Adams Morgan.

Police say 18-year-old Michael Griffin of northwest D.C. fired a gun into the air during a brawl shortly after 3 a.m. The undercover officers approached Griffin, identified themselves and ordered him to drop his weapon. Instead, authorities say he fled.

The officers chased Griffin, who opened fire on them. They returned fire, killing Griffin.

Authorities say one officer was shot in the back, and was admitted to a hospital in stable condition. The other officer was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg and released from a hospital.

Ramell Brown was out with friends early Saturday morning when he heard the gunshots ring out.

"It was like boom, boom, boom," he said.

Police say the shots rang out just after 3 a.m. Near the intersection of Kalorama and Champlaign Streets. Witnesses say it all started as a fight.

"We see the dude pull out the gun, so we got scared and just started backing up," said Tony Gomez, a witness.

And that's when undercover officers, already in the area, intervened.

"Both the suspect and the officers...were struck by gunfire," said D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier (web | news | bio) .

"This is an intolerable level of violence," said D.C. Councilmember Jim Graham.

City leaders are now calling for a permanent police presence near the intersection. Jessica Ladd lives just a few blocks away but says the shooting has her re-thinking where she wants to call home.

"My lease comes up in July and I might be more likely now to move than I would have been otherwise," Ladd said.

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Information from: WTOP-FM

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