Greg Toppo

USATODAY

Police in suburban Washington, D.C., have taken two suspects into custody after an officer was shot dead outside a district station on Sunday.

Officials in Prince George's County, Md., tweeted late Sunday: "One of your defenders lost his life in defense of this community today."

Police Chief Henry P. Stawinski III said the shooting was "an unprovoked attack."

Authorities said another person, who is not a police officer, also was wounded.

A witness, Lascelles Grant, toldThe Washington Post that she heard what she thought was firecrackers or gunshots. When she looked outside she saw a man dressed in black firing a handgun. "He fired one shot, and then he started pacing back and forth, then fired another shot," she said.

The officer, 28-year-old Jacai Colson, was a four-year veteran of the department. He was just days shy of his 29th birthday.

"Jacai had an infectious smile, he lit up a room," said Fraternal Order of Police President Zeek Teletchea, who called him a "cop's cop" and personal friend, WUSA-TV reported.

"Those officers did not shrink. They bravely advanced and engaged this individual who was threatening not just the police officers and the police facility that he was opening fire upon but numerous members of the community in the area," Stawinski said, according to WUSA.

In a statement, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he was "shocked and saddened" by Colson's death. He said he had ordered flags to fly at half-staff in his honor.

Police had advised people near the Prince George's County Police Department District III Station in Landover to stay inside and avoid the area as they looked for the suspects. After the second person was apprehended Sunday evening, police said they did not believe more suspects were at large, but cautioned the investigation was "in early stages."

Officials with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives say those federal agencies were aiding local police in investigating the shooting.

Contributing: WUSA-TV, Washington; The Associated Press. Follow Greg Toppo on Twitter: @gtoppo