It's a combination of the neighborhood and the fact that Howard's a black college. If this happened at any other urban DC school (GW, Georgetown, American, even Catholic - which is in a bad neighborhood as well) it would be covered in the local papers. I live a few blocks away from Howard and it's sad to say that the reason it isn't being covered by mainstream press is because it's Howard, but that's what it is...

@Old_city

If you wonder why you're generally going to be ignored and branded as an idiot, look at your substitution of "their" for "they're". I can't wait to see how you blame your tenuous grasp on the English language on affirmative action.

It could have been some yahoos shooting in to the air making it no news. When I lived on 6th and RI Ave, I would hear gunshots never to be followed by sirens. And who is to say the car squealing tires had anything to do with the gunshots? Were there any witnesses to the actual firing of the shots? Because there are all of these questions that is why it is not being covered, gunshots in that neighborhood are unfortunately all too common.

I mean, growing up on the mean streets of Rhode Island what do I know, but it seems here that someone fired shots at a student and missed him, then sped off. In my book, this is an attempted drive-by. No one was injured. Is it scary, yes. But not especially newsworthy.

I love conspiracy theories, so here is mine:

I wonder if some of these condo developers’ are paying off the cops or the media to keep crime, in their location of interest, on the down low. I know there is zero evidence and this is wild speculation, but deep down inside I am sure there is some kind of hank panky going on.

Yeah I think it wasn't covered 'cause it happened at Howard. I doubt the same media ignorance of the event would happen if it were GW or God forbid Georgetown. I live right by Howard and stuff like this gets ignored all the time. Although I guess another reason is 'cause Councilmember Graham can't try to shutdown Howard as is his all purpose response to any crime in Ward 1.

Thanks for making sweeping claims about "the people who post on DCist" based on one person's comment in this thread, demonfafa. I think it's pretty obvious to anyone with minimal reading comprehension that the original DCist who posted this item and the majority of people who have spoken up so far think ignoring the situation is a serious problem. Don't let reality get in the way of your grumpy broad-brush social theorizing though . . .

Granted, it's just a blog, but shouldn't people be calling for a more serious investigation and news coverage of this event . . .

Words 2-5 answer your question. I sincerely doubt that even if (and this is a gigantic if) everyone on DCist held hands, sang Kumbiya, and called for a more thorough investigation of this incident that anything would come of it. Furthermore everyone here knows that, so there's no reason to interrupt this afternoon's snarkfest with social responsibility.

Seriously, how do you think the word would spread to the appropriate police powers? Would Patrolman X, surfing DCist on his free time see this story and subsequently tell his Sergeant, "Hey, Demonfafa, Hillrat, and Monkeyrotica think that we should investigate that shooting up at Howard where no one got hurt more thoroughly." To which Sgt. Peckerwood answers, "Those DCist commenters are right, we should spend some time investigating that shooting where no one was hit even though the homicide clearance rate in DC continues to hover around 50%!!"

@Demonfafa

I laid it on kind of thick with that last post, but I'm just sayin' . . .

it is not going to be covered by local media because the whole incident revolves around JUST THE SOUND of gunfire. no one hit, no property damage. maybe that's news in Georgetown, but the real point here is that in this neighborhood that happens all the time, and after awhile it simply becomes too common to be news. and to those who write the news, the fact that it happened in the ghetto trumps the fact that it happened on a university campus. and oh yes, it is still the ghetto. it kinda sucks, but is anyone really surprised by this?

It's simple to say "because it's Howard," and probably right as far as it goes, but how far IS that? Why exactly would info about an incident like this get to the citywide media had it happened in Georgetown, but not Howard? Who calls whom? Do journalists pick stories like this up via police reports or a tip/source?

NOTE: This is a separate question from the journalistic decision about newsworthiness.

Fact: gunshots are more common around Howard than around Georgetown. It's still a big deal, but not as out of the ordinary.

Someone should start a "shots fired" blog for DC. It would be interesting to note the various locations where and when people report gunfire. I have to imagine people would be a lot more willing to do a quick email or twitter than to call and deal with the DC police.

Considering my personal experiences with the DC police, I hope I never have to deal with them...especially to ask for their 'help'.

But are we missing the bigger picture?? Its spring, in the middle of campus visits from high school students. The shooters have bad timing. Also add in the fact that HU has enough money to pay off whomever and keep things quiet...hmmm....oh and go f**k yourself to the person with the comment about black on black violence. uncalled for.

"See Hillman? It's not just me that hates and fears interaction with 5-0."

Your choice. But don't come crying to me when DC police return the favor and ignore your neighborhood. Of course, you could probably successfully argue which came first...

I agree that many DC cops are crap. But even the crappy ones on occasion have to pretend to care. And that at least gets you something, even if by accident.