Metro identified the employee who was killed as Robert Cunningham

Metro employee shot and killed today was 64 year old Robert Cunningham. A mechanic in Metro’s power department. He is being hailed as a hero for stepping in to help a customer who was being threatened with a gun.

Police say Robert Cunningham intervened to help a young woman being threatened by the gunman when he was shot. He was a mechanic in Metro’s power department.

The Potomac Avenue Metro station is still closed but police have taken down the crime scene tape and opened up the area around it above ground. One officer tells me it will likely open later this afternoon at some point.

Metro releases statement on Potomac Avenue shooting:

Metro is mourning the loss of a heroic employee, Robert Cunningham, who intervened on behalf of a customer today at Potomac Avenue Station and was a victim of senseless gun violence. Mr. Cunningham was 64 years old and a mechanic in our power department. In his remembrance, Metro has lowered its flags to half-staff during this time of grief.

Below are statements issued by the Metro Board of Directors and General Manager/Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke Cunningham.:

We understand that the employee acted with extreme bravery to help a customer who was being threatened by the shooter. To the family of the Metro employee, please accept our sincerest condolences. The Board is working with management to support the Metro family.

Statement from General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke:

Today, I feel profound sadness about the loss of our Metro family member, Robert Cunningham. We grieve for our employee, his family, and all who have been affected by this senseless tragedy. I appreciate the outpouring of support Metro has received today. Gun violence must stop. Unfortunately, Metro is not immune to the violence that our country is experiencing right now. These senseless acts must be addressed together by our leaders and community. We will take time to process this loss and take care of our employees. We are all hurting and will continue to lean on each other for support.

Wednesday, a Metro worker was shot and killed on the platform of a D.C. train station as he tried to stop a gunman who had already shot and hurt several other people.

Executive Assistant Chief of Police Ashan M. Benedict stated at a press conference that the event began with an altercation on a Metrobus near 14th Street and Potomac around 9:00 a.m.

Benedict reported that a person with a firearm engaged random passengers on the bus, followed one of them off, and then shot them in the leg.

The shooter proceeded to enter the Potomac Avenue Metro station, where they descended the escalator to the station platform and confronted a passenger who was attempting to purchase a Metro card. Benedict stated that the shooter attempted to drag the victim over the turnstile at the faregate after shooting them. However, the victim was able to free himself and get away.

The shooter then confronted a woman who was thought to be a client after going farther down the escalator. According to Benedict, a Metro transport employee who witnessed the incident and tried to step in to stop it was shot and killed by the gunman.

The suspect was then approached by a second Metro transport employee before being taken into custody by law enforcement officers. During this time, the suspect entered and left a train that was halted at the platform.

Randy Clarke, the CEO and general manager of Metro, referred to the event as “an terribly sad day” and stated that additional details surrounding the employee who was killed would be made public.

“I just want to send my deep condolences to the Metro family,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser at the scene Wednesday. “We don’t know a lot about this shooter at this moment – other than we had a person with a gun who has created yet another tragedy in our city. We will work hand-in-hand with Metro to complete this investigation as we move forward.”