WASHINGTON -- A possible shooting incident involving a police chase near the White House closed streets in the nation's capital Friday night.
According to reports, shots were fired between two cars on Constitution Avenue between 15th and 17th streets NW, an area adjacent to the Ellipse and Washington Monument. There were no reported injuries.
According to HuffPost's Mike McAuliff, a law enforcement source said that the Secret Service saw the incident and put out a description on the two vehicles. One of the cars was abandoned at 23rd Street NW and Constitution Avenue, near the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the State Department. An AK-47 was recovered at the scene. Witnesses also reported seeing someone running across the Roosevelt Bridge.
The source did not believe the shots were directed at the White House, speculating that it was probably an issue between the two vehicles.
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama reportedly are not in Washington tonight, but in California.
Constitution Avenue and other streets in the area were closed as police authorities investigated. As the Associated Press reported, police were looking for bullet holes but had not confirmed that shots were fired. The Washington Post reported Saturday that "that spent cartridges were found on Constitution [Avenue]."
UPDATE, Saturday, 11:15 p.m: In an interview with WRC-TV/NBC4's Darcy Spencer, U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser updated some of the information regarding Friday night's incident. Police, who are looking for a person of interest, believe only one car was involved in the initial incident on Constitution Avenue -- the one that was abandoned at 23rd Street NW and Constitution Avenue. Also, while a high-powered rifle was recovered where the car was abandoned, it was not an AK-47 as some earlier reports indicated. This post will be updated when more information becomes available.
UPDATE, Sunday morning Police are looking for Oscar Ramiro Ortega, who is believed may have more information about Friday night's incident. For updated information on Friday night's incident, click here.