Investigators in the Metropolitan Police Department believe Howard University student Omar Sykes was killed Thursday night in a “random encounter.” Sykes, 22, was shot about 11:30 p.m. on the 700 block of Fairmont Street NW, just outside the university’s campus along Georgia Avenue.

Sykes suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. A second Howard student who was walking with Sykes was assaulted and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The assault victim’s name has not been released.

“We believe Omar Sykes was shot during an attempted robbery,” Acting Capt. Robert Alder of MPD’s homicide unit said at a press conference today, according to NBC4.

Police are looking for two suspects. The first is described as about 5-foot-10-inches, weighing 210 pounds and wearing all black; the second is described about six feet tall and wearing a white shirt. Both suspects were carrying guns, Alder said at Friday’s news conference.

Police are also offering a $25,000 award for tips that lead to an arrest in Sykes’ slaying. Officers will also go through Howard’s campus this weekend to pass out fliers and canvass the school for potential information in the case.