Photo by Travlr

Photo by Travlr

By Matt Cohen and Sarah Anne Hughes

Multiple people were injured near Howard University today after a group of people reportedly rushed a gate.

A D.C. Fire and EMS union account first sounded the alarm after it reported that multiple people were trampled near the Northwest D.C. school as homecoming festivities occurred.

A Metropolitan Police Department public information officer said that police responded to a report of a large crowd ramming the gate at 6th Street and Howard Place NW at around 3:17 p.m. A D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson said units are on the scene and, despite a tweet from IAFF36, there is no mass causality situation. An MPD PIO said five civilians and two MPD personnel, while Fire and EMS initially said three people were evaluated for injuries.

A Twitter account for Howard’s homecoming reported, “Please remain calm. We will resume the show once those outside of Yardfest calm down.” They later tweeted that Yardfest was “back on.”

Howard University spokesperson Kerry-Ann Hamilton said in a statement, “The Yard Fest is oversubscribed. Public Safety officials have restored order and the concert has resumed. Preliminary reports are four people received minor injuries as attendees attempted to gain access after the venue reached capacity. They were treated on the scene. One person was taken to the hospital.”

Video from the scene paints a chaotic picture near the gate.

Filed Under: homecoming, howard university, yardfest,