5 Injured, Including College Student and 13-Year-Old Boy, in Shooting Near Howard University amid Homecoming Weekend

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Five people were injured in a shooting near Howard University on Friday, October 24.

• Three men, a woman and a 13-year-old boy suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

• Two suspects were detained

Five people were injured and two suspects were detained in the shooting that took place near Howard University in Washington DC.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), officers were called to Howard Place NW, just outside the Howard campus, around 8:30pm local time on Friday, October 24th. DC News Now, NBCWashington And Washington Post.

Three men, a woman and a 13-year-old boy suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, and DC Fire and EMS personnel transported them to the hospital, authorities told media outlets.

MPD told the press that although none of the victims were Howard University students, one of them was a Morgan State University student.

Police said two people were detained but their identities were not disclosed. A suspect attempted to flee the scene but was captured in a nearby McDonald’s parking lot. Police seized three weapons from the scene, sources said.

Howard University and Morgan State University’s football teams will play each other on Saturday for Howard’s homecoming weekend.

Howard said expression In a statement on Saturday, it was stated that the attack was not connected to the school and that no students, faculty or staff were involved in the incident. The incident apparently began with a confrontation between two individuals, the university noted.

“HUPD [Howard University Police Department] “The University implemented enhanced security measures throughout the weekend, including increased presence of University security, staff, and local law enforcement on and around campus to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

“The University appreciates the rapid and coordinated response of MPD and HUPD officers, whose actions helped protect the safety of our community,” Howard added.

Morgan State did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for information.

Eyewitnesses who were present during the conflict recalled hearing shouts and gunshots.

“All we heard was yelling,” one man told DC News Now. “We can’t do anything in DC… This happens every time there’s an event in DC, especially homecoming. DC [is] dangerous.”

Another witness, identified as Jaiden Ramirez, said he was playing basketball nearby and saw three men running across the street screaming before six to seven gunshots rang out.

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“We panicked, ran inside and came out 30 minutes later,” Ramirez recalled. “We weren’t trying to get hit.”

At a press conference Friday night, MPD Chief Pamela Smith urged D.C. residents to “put down their guns.”

“We need people in our city to lay down these weapons,” he said. NBC4Washington. “We will not tolerate individuals coming into our town with firearms.”

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