Several officials were conducting an investigation after reports were filed that a man either tripped or slipped and fell off a pier on the Washington Navy Yard around 11:40 a.m. Friday.

Moments after the 22-year-old man went into the water around 11:40 a.m., rescue crews arrived. They combed the murky Anacostia river for hours but found only a hat.

Despite the heavy rain, three developmentally disabled Melwood employees were walking along the pier when one of them fell over the edge of the pier and into the water.

"It was lunch time so the individuals could have been going to lunch, could have been out walking along the water for whatever reason," said Navy Yard Spokesperson, Ed Zeigler.

Nearly two hours later, around 2:15p.m., a diver located the body far from the dock in the middle of the river. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. 

A number of disabled individuals from Melwood work on the base in custodial, food service, or other jobs. They are allowed to freely move about the base.

Word of the drowning spread among the thousands of workers at the Navy Yard. Many wondered why would anyone go to the dock area on such a rainy day. "I don't know why you would go down there unless you want to sit and look at the water. There's nothing really down there. It's kind of weird and it's raining. Why be outside in the rain?" said Navy Yard employee Davis Elliott. 

An investigation is underway to determine just how the man actually wound up in the water. Police are talking with the two individuals who were with him to determine whether he fell, was pushed, or jumped.

Email To A Friend