A 17-year-old suspect, Kaevaughn Dudley, has been arrested in connection with a shooting at Howard University’s homecoming event in Washington, D.C., which left five people injured, including a 13-year-old. The incident, which occurred during the Yard Fest celebration on October 24, followed an altercation between two groups of individuals. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Columbia, the larger group approached a smaller group, including the 13-year-old, and exchanged words, leading to a confrontation. Surveillance footage, which was critical to the investigation, revealed Dudley walking away from the victim’s group before allegedly firing multiple shots at them.
Dudley, who was taken into custody on November 14 by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), faces multiple felony charges, including five counts each of assault with intent to murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He is being tried as an adult. The victims, who include three adult males, one adult female, and one juvenile male, were transported to a nearby hospital following the shooting. While none of the victims attend Howard University, one individual is a student at Morgan State University and remains paralyzed from the chest down after being shot.
Authorities also initially arrested two 19-year-old suspects for carrying an unlicensed pistol but later determined they were not involved in the case. Investigators recovered three handguns at the scene, including a privately made Polymer 80, a Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0, 9mm, and a Glock 19 9mm. Howard University did not immediately respond to media inquiries about the incident. Detectives combed through numerous surveillance cameras and hundreds of hours of footage to identify Dudley as the suspect. He is set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on December 18, and his attorney could not be reached for comment.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about campus safety and the increasing frequency of violent incidents during homecoming events. Experts have warned of a surge in campus violence and a growing concern over outsiders seeking to create chaos in academic environments. The case also highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in investigating and resolving such incidents, particularly when the perpetrator is a minor who is being tried as an adult.