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Howard Reports Four Crimes Near Campus In Three Weeks 

In the first three weeks of the spring semester, four crimes were reported near Howard’s campus including a shooting and multiple armed robberies.

Security clearing vehicles to enter the main gate Sept. 3, 2024. (Paige Kiarie/The Hilltop) 

Three weeks into the spring semester there were four reports of crimes near campus involving both students and non–Howard affiliates as of Jan. 31. 

According to MPD crime data, as of Jan. 31, overall crime is down 12 percent in D.C. However, when comparing the first three weeks of the fall 2024 semester to the spring 2025 semester, only two crime alerts were sent by DPS for a robbery snatch and an armed robbery. 

Here are the details of this year’s crimes so far:

Jan. 16 –Armed Robbery

  • The Howard University Department of Public Safety (DPS) sent out a crime alert at 11:42 p.m.
  • According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) report, the crime occurred on the 400 block of College Street NW, at 10:30 p.m. and lasted until 11:30 p.m.
  • The crime alert said the lookout is for nine Black males, one with a white face mask and the others with  black ski masks.
  • All suspects had a slim build and were approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall, according to the crime alert. 
  • The suspect, wearing a white sweater and black jacket, was armed with an AR-15.  
  • The four students, two male and two female, were walking back from Armour J. Blackburn University Center together when they were confronted, according to students involved.

Earlier in the month, The Hilltop reported on this incident and stated that it happened outside one of the student residence halls, College Hall North (CHN).

The students involved said they were standing across from CHN for 15-20 minutes before they were approached and surrounded by the masked men.

The men said “give me everything you’ve got,” to the students, and two of them pointed assault rifles at one of the male students.

The two female students said they ran through the group of men, who “clutched” their guns but didn’t aim or shoot them at them while they escaped. They then entered CHN and alerted the security guards, who called 911.

Eventually, they said the two male students also came inside, one of them had a bloody face.

The suspects took the victims’ property, fled the scene and were last seen on foot northbound on College Street towards LeDroit Park. According to MPD, an estimated value of $2,400 was stolen from the two male victims and one of them was pistol-whipped.

Jan. 17 – Armed Robbery

  • Crime alert from DPS sent out at 4:26 p.m.
  • MPD reported the time of the crime between 3:13 and 4 p.m.
  • The crime occurred near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Howard Place NW. MPD reported that the crime occurred at Banneker Community Center.
  • The crime alert said the lookout is for two individuals, a tall Black male armed with a handgun and a short Black male—both wearing all-black attire.
  • The items stolen included a black Moose Knuckles jacket and an AirPods case, according to the Jan. 17 MPD report.

The complainant of this robbery told MPD that he was approached by the suspects and had a handgun pointed at his stomach before being forced to remove his jacket. The two suspects then fled the robbery with the items in a black Sedan.

Jan. 17 – Shooting

  • Crime alert from DPS sent out at 5:11 p.m.
  • The crime alert said it occurred on Second and W Street NW near College Hall South (CHS) at 3:32 p.m.
  • There was one person injured after he was shot in his hand, and the victim was transported to the hospital, according to the DPS crime alert.
  • The Jan. 17 police report said the three suspects involved were last seen driving southbound to Second and Florida Avenue NW before fleeing in an unknown direction.
  • Marcus Lyles, the executive director and chief of police for DPS, reported that MPD has identified an individual and issued a warrant for his arrest.

Initially this incident was reported to be Howard-related, but in a Jan. 19 university email addressing the recent crimes, DPS referred to it as a “non-Howard related shooting incident in the LeDroit Park neighborhood.”

In the same email, DPS stated that there will be increased officer presence on campus including near the incident sites.  

Also, in the initial crime alert from DPS, they provided no lookout information but at 4:12 p.m. on X, MPD posted images of a suspect vehicle. According to MPD, when officers arrived on the scene an adult male was spotted walking to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound and they later discovered a crime scene at 2200 block of Seventh Street NW.

Additionally, a Howard student in CHS was harmed in the shooting when a stray bullet shattered their glass window and cut the individual’s face and arm.

Qubilah Huddleston, a non-Howard affiliated pedestrian, was one of the individuals who fled the scene.

On X, in response to the MPD post, she said, “I was walking outside when this happened. Myself and the people around me all ran once we heard the second round of shots fired. Such a scary moment.”

When asked further about her experience Huddleston continually expressed the need for more safety measures.

“We need to be talking about the safety of students,” she said.

She mentioned that with all of the crime in D.C., “You can’t even go outside and get sunlight,” without worrying about the violence.

Lyles said the crime data near Howard mimics the data recorded in other neighborhoods policed in the third district, “Property crime is up, violent crime is down.” 

He attributed this decline to MPD and federal partners’ collaboration in “targeting gangs, crews, things of that nature.”

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Jan. 27 – Armed Robbery 

  • DPS crime alert was sent out at 6:28 am. 
  • MPD reported that the crime occurred between 5:08-5:15 a.m. 
  • The robbery happened at Banneker Community Center. 
  • According to DPS crime alert, the lookout is for three suspects who are between 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet, 9 inches tall, who all wore black ski masks.
  • The items stolen include an iPhone, wallet, bookbag, three tennis rackets, tennis shoes, and an Airpod case. Among these items the tennis rackets and tennis shoes were recovered near the scene, according to the police report.

The victim of this crime told MPD that on the 2500 block of Georgia Avenue NW, all three suspects exited out of a tan color Honda SUV before approaching him. He was then held at gunpoint and demanded to give all of his possessions. Additionally, one of the suspects demanded the victim’s phone information, which he refused to give up. 

After this encounter all three suspects fled the scene in the same vehicle heading northbound on Georgia Avenue. 

Lyles spoke about some of the strategies that DPS is using to mitigate incidents of crime on campus. Among these enhancing Operation Safety Lift, a crime prevention program sponsored by DPS, to 24 hour service so that community members can call and be escorted by campus police if they feel endangered. 

Additionally, Lyles emphasized that students obtain a POM safety device, and handheld device that allows community members to instantly notify DPS of an incident without needing to place a call.

In addition, Lyles said that DPS will expand their ranks to 40 more campus officers before the end of the semester. 

“We are committed, we are not desensitized and we want to ensure our students, faculty and staff that we want to keep them safe while they are here,” Lyles said, talking about the current force.

At the end of every crime alert, DPS provides the following general safety tips.

  • Avoid isolated and dark areas.
  • Carry your mobile phone and keep it accessible.
  • Do not use doors marked as fire exits, prop or obstruct them for unauthorized access.   
  • If you are approached, take note of the person’s appearance, clothing, and anything that will help to identify the subject.
  • Immediately report any suspicious activity or suspicious individuals to DPS at 202-806-1100. Program this number into your mobile phone for quick access.

Copy edited by Aniyah Genama

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