A shooting occurred near Howard University’s campus leaving five people injured during one of the city’s busiest weekends: Homecoming.
A shooting occurred near Howard University’s campus in the evening on Friday, Oct. 24, leaving five people injured during one of the city’s busiest weekends: Homecoming. According to DC News Now, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to reports of gunfire in the 600 block of Howard Place NW shortly before 8:30 p.m.
When police arrived, they found three men, one woman, and a 13-year-old boy suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS transported all five victims to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities confirmed that while none of the victims were Howard University students, one of the injured was a Morgan State University student.
The two HBCUs were scheduled to face off in a football game the following day, marking one of the most anticipated events of Howard’s Homecoming weekend. This incident follows a series of five Homecoming mass shootings across Mississippi earlier this month, including HBCUs Alcorn State University and Jackson State University.
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DC News Now states that MPD say two individuals were taken into custody following the incident and that three weapons were recovered at the scene. One of those detained allegedly tried to escape officers but was caught in a McDonald’s parking lot nearby. As of Friday night, authorities had not released the identities of either suspect.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, though early reports suggest it may have stemmed from a confrontation between two individuals, according to a statement from Howard University officials.
In DC News Now, witnesses recalled the fear and confusion that spread across the area moments after shots rang out.
“All we heard was yelling,” one witness said. “We can’t do nothing in D.C. … this happens every time there’s a function in D.C., especially homecoming. D.C. [is] dangerous.”
Another witness, Jaiden Ramirez, said he was playing basketball when chaos erupted nearby.