WASHINGTON, D.C. – During an attempted robbery on Thursday morning, a construction worker was fatally shot at a work site on the campus of Howard University in Northwest, D.C. The Homicide Branch of the D.C. MPD is asking for help identifying a vehicle of interest involved in the shooting.
Just before 6 am, police officers were dispatched to the 2200 block of 6th Street in response to a reported shooting. Upon reaching the scene, officers found 34-year-old Rafael Adolfo Gomez, a resident of Maryland, suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital; however, despite life-saving measures, he succumbed to his injuries.
According to D.C. police, investigators suspect that Gomez was deliberately singled out during an attempted robbery on the Northwest campus. Both Howard University officials and the police have clarified that they do not suspect any affiliation between the victim or the suspects involved in the incident with the university. In response to the ongoing investigation, school officials have urged students and staff present on campus to steer clear of the affected area.
A surveillance camera captured a vehicle of interest. The vehicle in question is a white Nissan SUV and was last observed with Maryland license plate number 5EW6340.
If you have any information about the shooting, please take no action but call the police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.