Washington, D.C. law-enforcement officials say the city endured one of its most violent stretches of the year Friday afternoon and evening, with 12 people shot across multiple locations over approximately nine hours. The surge in gunfire began around 5:30 p.m. and included a key incident near the campus of Howard University, where five individuals were shot just blocks from the homecoming festivities.
Two 19-year-old suspects were arrested in connection with the shooting outside Howard, and three firearms were recovered at the scene; officials say more suspects may still be at large. One victim—a 5-year-old boy—was grazed by a bullet while standing on a southeast D.C. street.
The spike has triggered renewed concern about the citywide crime-wave, especially as the administration has deployed National Guard units to support local police in high-incident areas. A Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson described the weekend as “overly violent” and said detectives are reviewing dozens of leads, witness accounts and video footage.
Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a statement calling the violence “unacceptable” and pledged additional resources for patrols in neighborhoods hosting large public events. The uptick in shootings highlights broader challenges facing the capital as it grapples with public-safety strategy, event-security logistics and gun-violence prevention.