Late Friday night, gunfire erupted near Howard University in Northwest Washington, DC, causing widespread alarm at one of the city’s biggest annual college events. According to the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD), five people—four adults and one juvenile—were shot around 8:20 p.m. on the 600 block of Howard Place NW, near Georgia Avenue. None of the victims were students, faculty or staff of Howard.

Witnesses described the incident as chaotic: what moments earlier had been a celebratory home-coming atmosphere quickly turned into panic as the sound of multiple shots rang out and crowds scattered. Police responded quickly, set road closures around the area (including parts of the 2300 block of Georgia Avenue NW) and launched an investigation. Two suspects have been taken into custody and three firearms recovered.

In a formal statement, Howard University clarified that the shooting was not affiliated with the institution or its official events. The university emphasized that none of those wounded were Howard students, and described the incident as an off-campus confrontation between individuals. Meanwhile, MPD confirmed the investigation is ongoing, citing efforts to review surveillance footage and determine motive or further suspects.

As the campus community absorbed the shock, the broader implications were clear: a major homecoming weekend, meant for celebration and unity, was disrupted by violence. The university and local law enforcement both signalled enhanced security for upcoming events. The incident underscored persistent concerns about crowd safety and gun violence in urban college-town environments, especially during large scale gatherings.