Construction worker fatally shot on campus of Howard University

Washington, D.C., police say the worker was killed during a robbery.

July 13, 2023

A construction worker has been fatally shot during an attempted robbery at a work site on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Post reports that the shooting occurred shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday near 6th and W streets NW.

A spokeswoman for the university said preliminary information indicates that neither the shooter, who has not been arrested, nor the victim was affiliated with the school.

Police Cmdr. James Boteler said investigators do not believe the shooting is related to the school or students.

“We do not believe there is a threat” to the university, he said. “We believe preliminarily this is a potential robbery that went bad.”

Thursday’s shooting was the second in eight days to occur on a college campus in Washington, D.C. On July 5, 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson, a Kentucky teacher visiting for a conference, was fatally shot on the grounds of Catholic University during what authorities have said was a possible robbery.

Police have arrested a suspect in that case. Catholic University has said that neither the victim nor the man arrested was affiliated with the school.