Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen called for an emergency shutdown of Cafe 8 on Barracks Row after a shooting Sunday, Oct. 18, wounded a National Guard member and a suspect.

Allen said on X that he had spoken with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) 1st District Commander Colin Hall and the director of the D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) about the incident. He called for an emergency closure "until this business changes how they operate."

The shooting happened around 11:10 p.m. in the 400 block of 8th Street SE. A fight broke out on the sidewalk, and one person involved pulled a gun and opened fire, according to WTOP.

National Guard troops monitoring the area exited a nearby van and ordered the gunman to drop the weapon. The gunman pointed the weapon at the troops, who returned fire, Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said at an early-morning press conference.

A Guard member was shot in the leg and the suspected shooter was struck in the abdomen. Both were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The Guard member was later treated and released, a Joint Task Force-District of Columbia spokesperson told WTOP.

Police on Monday, Oct. 19, identified the accused gunman as Jerrell Jackson, 41, of Southeast D.C. He has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault on a police officer and emergency personnel, carrying a pistol without a license, and felon in possession of a firearm.

Allen told reporters the pattern of violence outside Cafe 8 has persisted for a year and a half to two years and that MPD has had to devote heavy resources to the corridor. He said other businesses and residents on the block are "sick and tired of it," Capitol Hill Corner reported.

No public response from Cafe 8's ownership or management appeared in any available statements as of publication.

Under D.C. law, when the ABCA board determines a licensed establishment poses an imminent danger to public safety, it can order a 96-hour summary suspension without a hearing. Allen said ABCA could then require a safety plan before allowing the business to reopen.

The ABCA board's next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 21, which would be the first opportunity for a closure vote, according to Capitol Hill Corner.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was briefed on the shooting overnight and again Monday morning but referred questions about Allen's closure request to police. She said MPD follows a protocol when a liquor-license holder has not cooperated after an incident.

The 400 block of Barracks Row has grown increasingly rowdy on weekend nights, according to Capitol Hill Corner. MPD cleared an after-midnight gathering on the block Saturday, Oct. 17. At an Oct. 6 community meeting, Commander Hall said MPD would deploy a Crime Suppression team to the area.

Residents can report concerns about liquor-licensed establishments to ABCA at (202) 442-4423.