A seventeen-year-old has been arrested in connection with a brazen shooting that shattered the celebratory atmosphere of Howard University’s homecoming last month. Kaevaughn Dudley now faces the weight of five separate charges, each carrying the potential for a lengthy sentence, and will be prosecuted as an adult.
The incident unfolded on October 24th during the university’s Yard Fest event. Witnesses described a group of nine individuals, clad in dark clothing and some masked, moving through the area surrounding the campus. Their presence would soon escalate into a violent confrontation.
According to investigators, the larger group encountered a smaller group of people, including a thirteen-year-old boy. A tense exchange began with a shouted challenge – “What’s up with ya’ll?” – met with a dismissive “Nothing” as the smaller group attempted to walk away.
Surveillance footage allegedly reveals Dudley separating himself from the larger group and then, without warning, opening fire on the retreating individuals with a handgun. Five people were struck by the gunfire, including the young teenager.
The victims included three adult men, one adult woman, and another juvenile male. Police officers, already deployed for homecoming security, responded immediately to the sound of gunfire, finding five individuals suffering from gunshot wounds and rushing them to a local hospital.
Initial arrests were made involving two nineteen-year-olds found with unlicensed pistols, but they were later cleared of involvement in the shooting itself. The focus quickly narrowed on identifying the shooter captured on surveillance.
The consequences of the shooting are devastating. One victim, a student at Morgan State University, has been paralyzed from the chest down. The injured woman remains hospitalized, her condition a stark reminder of the violence that erupted.
Investigators meticulously reviewed countless hours of surveillance footage from numerous cameras, ultimately pinpointing Dudley as the prime suspect. Three handguns were recovered at the scene: a Polymer 80, a Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0, and a Glock 19.
Dudley was apprehended by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Criminal Apprehension Unit on November 14th, taken into custody without incident. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 18th, where the case will begin to unfold in court.
The investigation continues, seeking to understand the motivations behind the shooting and bring full accountability for the trauma inflicted on the victims and the community. The echoes of gunfire during a time of celebration serve as a chilling reminder of the fragility of peace.
