Toddler killed in crossfire of Southeast D.C. shootout

D.C. police said a 3-year-old girl was shot and killed Friday night by a stray bullet in Southeast.

Metropolitan Police Seventh District Commander LaShay Makal said gunfire broke out around 9:10 p.m. Friday in the 2400 block of Irving Street Southeast just as the car Ty’ah Settles was riding in passed through.

Cmdr. Makal said an errant bullet hit the toddler during the chaos.

A family member drove Ty’ah to a nearby fire station, police said, and the girl was eventually airlifted to a hospital. The toddler died a short time later.

“This is an absolute, absolute tragedy — and it’s unacceptable,” Cmdr. Makal said during a Friday evening press conference. “A three-year-old little girl lost her life today. My phone should be ringing right now. We really, really need the community to reach out and help.”

Authorities didn’t say how many shooters were involved in the exchange and didn’t share a lookout for any possible suspects.