A man working as a construction worker was shot and killed in an apparent robbery attempt on Howard University’s campus in Northwest D.C. early Thursday morning, authorities say. The search for the shooter and a vehicle of interest is ongoing.
Rafael Adolfo Gomez, of Beltsville, Maryland, was the victim, police said. He was 34.
The victim was a construction worker who was shot as he arrived for his 6 a.m. shift, Howard president Wayne A. I. Frederick said in a letter to the school community. He called him a “husband, father, and friend.”
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“I join the campus community in offering my sincere condolences to the family, and all who mourn this tragedy,” Frederick said.
The victim worked for a contractor on a steam plant project on campus. He was shot in the 600 block of Bryant Street NW at about 6 a.m., police said.
“He called me and said, ‘My love, I just got to my work,’” said his widow, Jazmin Flores. “’I will change my clothes, and then I will call you when I get my lunch.’ Apparently, he just hung up the phone, and it happened.”
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The crime scene is between the WHUR-FM radio station and the College of Medicine building. A number of evidence markers could be seen in the area.
A fellow construction worker said he heard the gunfire.
“I got out of the truck at 6 to start working. As soon as my feet hit the ground I heard gunshots right there on the corner. I was like, ‘Holy smokes.' Man. Back in the truck. I went around the corner,” Richard Jones said.
Detectives said at a news conference that they believe the worker was shot in an attempted robbery. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died.
D.C. police are seeking the suspect and what they called a vehicle of interest. A surveillance image shows a white Nissan SUV with the Maryland tag 5EW6340. Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact police. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered.
A man who lives in the area said he walks there every day and saw the aftermath of the shooting.
"I was very shocked because right here is pretty much safe," he said.
Other construction workers said they fear working in D.C. but need to go where they can find work.
“This is ridiculous. There should be more protection out here than that, especially for workers and the college kids,” one worker said. He didn’t want to show his face, for fear the robbers would target him next.
ENGIE North America Inc., the company Gomez worked for, released a statement saying, in part, "We are deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence that took place near the Howard University campus earlier today ... Our thought are with the individual's family, friends and colleagues who have all lost a loved one."
Gomez' widow and brother live in the United States and are thinking of sending his body home to El Salvador where the rest of his family is mourning.
A number of construction workers have been targeted in D.C. in recent years. In 2020, construction company owner Elias Flores was on a job site in Deanwood when a robber shot and killed him. He was a hardworking father who dreamed of retiring in his home country, El Salvador. In 2022, a man was arrested for a spree of 19 robberies that mainly targeted Hispanic construction workers. Just a few months ago, a construction worker was assaulted in Navy Yard during an attempted robbery.
Howard’s public safety department initially said that based on preliminary information they did not believe the victim or suspect were affiliated with the school.
The shooting Thursday comes a week after a man was shot and killed on Catholic University's campus.
On Howard’s campus, someone left flowers to honor Adolfo Gomez.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for more updates.
