The incident happened around 5 a.m. in the parking lot of a condominium complex in Takoma Park, Maryland, a suburb about 7 miles from Washington, DC.
According to a statement from the Takoma Park Police Department, officers responded to a shooting and were approached by a Pentagon Police Protection Agency police officer who said he thought a car was being stolen. .
“He hired the suspects who did not follow his direction,” police said in the statement. “The suspects tried to flee in a vehicle, at which point the officer unloaded the service weapon.”
Shortly afterwards, police said “two of the suspects involved arrived at Prince George’s Hospital, both shot dead.”
They both died at the hospital.
It is unclear if the two people were breaking into the car.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough told CNN in a statement: “I can confirm that an off-duty PFPA police officer was involved in an early-morning shooting incident in Takoma Park, Maryland, which sparked two fatalities “.
He added: “According to standard policy, the police officer has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation. Also according to standard policy, PFPA will conduct an internal administrative investigation.”
Takoma Park Police Department and Montgomery County State Attorney’s Office are investigating the incident.
Takoma Park police declined to provide further information.
CNN has contacted the state attorney general.