Four people were killed and five others injured Tuesday night in what appears to be two drive-by shootings in southeast Washington D.C., police told Xinhua.

Four people were killed and five others injured Tuesday night in what appears to be two drive-by shootings in southeast Washington D.C.. [Xinhua]

The shootings involved two crime scenes, one on Galveston Street SW inside D.C. Police said an 18-year-old man was shot there. He was injured but the injuries were non-life threatening.

The other crime scene was on nearby Brandywine St SE and S Capitol St SE. The shooting there involved multiple casualties. Police said 8 people were shot there.

Local TV quoted authorities as saying all of the victims are in their 20s and 30s except for one teenager. There were six male victims and three females.

The suspected shooters fled south into Maryland after the shooting. Police recovered an AK-47 assault rifle near the crime scene, seemed to be tossed out of the suspects' car.

As police chased the suspects into Maryland, two of their patrol cars crashed in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Five police officers were hurt.

Police said they detained 3 suspects. They didn't give a motive for the shooting. The crime scenes were closed off as investigators worked.