The incident took place at about 5 a.m. in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Takoma Park, Maryland, a suburb about 7 miles from Washington, DC.
Agents responded to a call for gunfire and were approached by an off-duty Pentagon Force Protection Agency police officer who said he thought a car had been broken into, according to a statement from Takoma Park police.
“He hired suspects who did not follow his directions,” police said in the statement. “The suspects tried to flee in a vehicle on which the officer fired his service weapon.”
A short time later, police said, “two of the suspects involved arrived at Prince George’s Hospital, both of whom suffered gunshot wounds.”
Both died in the hospital.
It is unclear whether the two people broke into the car.
Pentagon spokesman Sue Gough told CNN in a statement, “I can confirm that a PFPA off duty police officer was involved in a shooting incident early this morning in Takoma Park, Maryland that resulted in two fatalities.”
She added: “Under standard policy, the police officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Also, under standard policy, PFPA will conduct an internal administrative investigation.”
Takoma Park Police and Montgomery County Attorney are investigating the incident.
Takoma Park Police declined to provide further information.
CNN has contacted the state attorney.