It was frightening

DRUDGE REPORT 2004

Authorities now believe it was pepper spray that affected several people in a downtown Washington D.C. office building this afternoon.

Commander Cathy Lenier of the Metropolitan Police Department says between 20 and 30 people are being treated for eye irritations. Lenier says a group of kids apparently released the pepper spray into a shopping area inside the building at 19th and 'I' streets, Northwest.

D-C Fire and E-M-S spokesman Alan Etter says this a triage area is being set up at nearby Murrow Park.

Portions of 'I' and 19th streets are shut in the area, where some two-dozen emergency vehicles are situated.

It was frightening. I was about to enter the Baja Fresh on the corner (there is also a great little Sushi Shop inside) when streams of people began running out of the building, coughing and covering their mouths. It took only a few minutes for police and fire to arrive, but the sense of panic the victims were showing was pretty frightening. I left the scene real quick.