WASHINGTON: A drive-by shooting killed three people and wounded six in the nation’s capital and three suspects were arrested, officials said.

A gunman sprayed bullets into a crowd

last night, Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier said.

The shootings of six men and three women happened around 7:30 pm in the southeastern part of the city, said Police Department spokesman Officer Hugh Carew. Fire Department spokesman Pete Piringer said all the victims were in their 20s and 30s, except for one teenager.

One died at the scene, one was dead on arrival at the hospital, and the third died in an operating room in the hospital, said Carolyn Hammond, spokeswoman for Washington Hospital Centre.

She said a fourth person was in critical condition late yesterday.

Three people were arrested and a weapon was recovered, according to police, who said they didn’t know what motivated the attack. The Washington Post newspaper reported that police pursued a van from the scene, aided by a helicopter.