x
Breaking News
More () »

DC Libraries Director of Public Safety resigns on same day as deadly shooting

Douglass Morency submitted his letter of resignation on August 4, but it's not clear if his resignation is a result of the shooting.

WASHINGTON — The Director of Public Safety for the D.C. Public Library System submitted a letter of resignation last week, on the same day as a deadly shooting inside the Anacostia Library.

Douglass Morency submitted his resignation letter on Aug. 4, according to DC Libraries Public Information Officer George Williams. It's not clear whether his resignation was the result of a shooting of Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan.

The Metropolitan Police Department said last week that around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, there was a shooting on the lower level of the library on Good Hope Road Southeast. A retired lieutenant that was hired by the D.C. library system to conduct ASP Baton training, took out a weapon and fired a shot, striking Manyan.

Jesse Porter, 58, has been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of negligence while holding a loaded firearm in the death of the 25-year-old woman.

According to charging documents in the case, witnesses told investigators the class was finished for the day and photos were being taken. The mood was lighthearted and there had been joking throughout the day that Manyan had been moving too slowly.

"They were all joking with the decedent that she was never ready," according to one witness.

When the victim paused to take off her mask and adjust her hair for a picture, the former officer pulled a gun from his holster and pointed it at her. The gun went off.

According to one witness, Porter said, "I thought I had my training gun. Why did I do this? Is she OK?"

Another witness described Porter as "distraught." Porter assisted in giving CPR to Manyan, according to a police report filed in court Friday.

The group had been handling training guns during the day and Porter and others were packing up and putting away props just prior to the incident, according to the police report.

Morency was hired with D.C. Public Libraries in March of 2020. His last day is Aug. 18. 

RELATED: Family of officer killed at Anacostia library questions retired lieutenant's actions

RELATED: Retired lieutenant charged in shooting of Anacostia Library special police officer

RELATED: Police: SPO shot, killed at Anacostia Library during training exercise

WUSA9 is now on Roku and Amazon Fire TVs. Download the apps today for live newscasts and video on demand.

Download the WUSA9 app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips.

Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter: Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.
Sign up for the Capitol Breach email newsletter, delivering the latest breaking news and a roundup of the investigation into the Capitol Riots on January 6, 2021.

Before You Leave, Check This Out