While Homecoming week festivities took place, there were reports of gunfire. Police officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Howard University Police Department (HUPD) arrived at the 2500 block of Georgia Avenue and the 600 block of Howard Place NW.
Five people were injured in the Oct. 24 shooting around 8:22 p.m., according to MPD. This was after the Yardfest concert ended and while the Greek step show was taking place.
Of the five victims, one had non-life-threatening injuries and one was still in the hospital as of Nov. 14, according to an MPD release.
According to Pamela Smith, chief of the MPD, none of the victims are Howard University students and one is a student from Morgan State University.
Two suspects were taken into custody and three weapons were found at the scene. An investigation found recently they were not suspects in the shooting and were charged with carrying a pistol without a license.
After reviewing surveillance footage near the scene, the footage showed a suspect opening fire after a dispute between two groups. On Nov. 14, a 17-year-old was arrested and charged as an adult for assault with intent to kill involving a gun.
Washington D.C. native Tab Naji was on Georgia Avenue when the shooting happened. He said he was talking with an old friend from middle school and high school when the shots were fired.
“The environment was rowdy once shots were fired,” Naji said.
Although he did not see the altercation that led up to the shots, Naji said he heard nine gunshots being fired. He quickly removed himself from the scene and got to safety.
Devon Reed-Rivera, a Class of 2023 Howard alumnus, was riding his bike on his way home when he was stopped by a police officer while passing through Georgia Avenue. He was unaware of the shooting at that time because he was wearing headphones. Reed-Rivera, a gun violence survivor, said this shooting had not changed his sense of safety.
“It’s sad. Yes. Is it shocking? Not entirely. Is it something that needs to be fixed? Absolutely,” Reed-Rivera said.
He also referenced events tied to recent violence.
“There’s no reason why there has been [bomb and shooting] threats…not just ever since Charlie Kirk has passed, but this has been going on for this entire decade,” Reed-Rivera said.
Reed-Rivera said that he hopes that Howard University will do more to protect its students.
More specifically, he believes Howard’s administration should take a more proactive role in addressing student safety concerns rather than waiting for incidents to occur.
A few minutes before the shooting, Miles Maiden, a fifth-year senior public relations major, sociology minor from Southern California, was at the parking lot between Banneker pool and the tennis courts with a friend when he heard the gunshots.
“We were looking at the people at the tennis courts. We were looking at the people sitting by the steps. Everyone started putting their heads down, started crouching, started running away. People were screaming,” Maiden said. “It was a lot to go through.”
“I’m thankful I’m still here today. It just really makes me think about the next moments in our life are not guaranteed,” Maiden said.
After the shooting, Maiden said he will have to look over his shoulder from now on. His advice to others is “to always be vigilant no matter where you are,” and he hopes the Howard community will come together.
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
