Roll of Honor
Incident
Investigator Wayne David was shot and killed when a firearm he was recovering from a storm drain inadvertently discharged.
He and other officers had attempted to speak to a man who was in a suspicious vehicle in the 4500 block of Quarles Street NE at about 5:45 pm. The man fled on foot toward Eastern Avenue NE and jumped down onto DC-295, where he threw a firearm into a storm drain. A passing motorcyclist then picked the man up, and they fled the scene.
Investigator David was attempting to retrieve the firearm from the drain when it discharged, striking him in the head. He was flown to MedStar Washington Hospital Center where he succumbed to his wound several hours later.
A subject was arrested eight days later and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Investigator David was a District of Columbia Air National Guard veteran and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 26 years and was assigned to the Violent Crime Suppression Division. He is survived by his son and daughter. His brother retired from the Metropolitan Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his son and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-A88BB18A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Investigator David gave the Metropolitan Police Department 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Wayne Ellis David served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Investigator Wayne Ellis David is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 48 of 131 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 36.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wayne Ellis David's cause is highlighted.
How Wayne Ellis David Compares
Offender Outcome
In custody
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Wayne Ellis David is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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