A night of celebration at Howard University turned chaotic on Friday when gunfire erupted near campus during homecoming festivities, leaving five people injured, police said.
The shooting happened around 8:23 p.m. in the 600 block of Howard Place NW, just as the university had wrapped up its popular Homecoming YardFest concert. The area—near Howard’s Yard and the School of Architecture—was crowded with thousands of students, alumni, and visitors enjoying one of the university’s most significant annual events.
According to D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith, the five victims included four adult men and one teenage boy. All were taken to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, and importantly, none of the victims were Howard students.
One of those injured was a Morgan State University student, a senior biology major from Minnesota, who was visiting Howard for the weekend’s celebrations. “He was likely there to attend YardFest,” said Larry Jones, a spokesperson for Morgan State. The two universities were set to face off in the homecoming football game on Saturday.
Authorities say two suspects were taken into custody, and three guns were recovered at the scene. Officers already patrolling the area heard gunshots and responded immediately.
Chief Smith said there is no ongoing threat to the community and promised an increased police presence throughout the weekend.
Witnesses described moments of fear and confusion as the sound of gunfire sent crowds running for safety. “All we heard was yelling. We can’t do anything in D.C… this occurs every time there’s an event,” one witness told reporters. Another, Jaiden Ramirez, recalled, “I was playing basketball when I saw three men running and shouting. Then we heard six or seven shots. We panicked, ran inside, and came back out 30 minutes later. We were not trying to get shot.”
The incident was one of several shootings across Washington, D.C., on Friday night—nine people were shot citywide in less than four hours, police said.
Following the shooting, several road closures were implemented near Howard, including parts of Georgia Avenue NW, Barry Place NW, Howard Place NW, and 6th Street NW, as investigators worked the scene.
Howard University’s 2025 Homecoming Week, which runs October 19–26, features concerts, campus traditions, and alumni gatherings. Despite the shooting, the university announced that homecoming events would continue as planned with added security.
The violence has reignited concerns about safety during historically Black college and university (HBCU) homecomings. In 2023, Morgan State University canceled several homecoming events after a mass shooting injured five people on its campus.
As the investigation continues, police are asking anyone with information about Friday night’s shooting to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099 or send an anonymous text tip to 50411.
