A student at Howard University was robbed and pistol-whipped on his way to class, according to a police report.
The attack allegedly happened Nov. 20. The student was walking on 6th Street NW near the Washington, D.C. campus. Police say two gun-toting assailants approached the victim from behind.
I just need all this,” one of the suspects said in reference to his belongings. He was then hit with the weapons, pushed to the ground and kicked. The criminals allegedly grabbed all the victim’s items, including a Gucci belt worth $600, before fleeing in a dark gray vehicle.
The student, a sophomore, refused to seek medical treatment. They said the attack happened around 9:30 a.m.
“I was just in shock,” the student told The Hilltop, Howard’s student newspaper. “It wasn’t the fact that I even got robbed. It was just the fact that it was on campus at 9:30. The fact that I can’t even walk to class at 9:30 and just relax. It’s crazy… I didn’t know how to react.”
“Our priority is creating a secure and nurturing environment where students can focus on their academic and personal growth without fear for their safety,” Howard University said in a statement. “We continue to collaborate with both local and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe and inviting atmosphere for students, faculty, staff and visitors to your campus.”
This incident is the latest in a string of crimes happening at or near Howard and other HBCUs across the country. In August, someone was stabbed in front of Howard Plaza Towers as the victim started to wrestle with two men who were attempting to rob him.
In Maryland, the homecoming celebration at Bowie State University students was cut short when two people were injured after shots were fired
. Similar incidents happened at Morgan State University after a shooting left five people injured. The historically Black university is in talks to build a wall around the campus to provide a safer learning environment for students.