Howard University continues to be on a campuswide alert and police have raised the stakes to find the man they believe has sexually attacked at least eight women near the school on Georgia Avenue this week.
D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey announced a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest of a man who is targeting women around the school.
“Any time you have someone armed with a knife and making sexual advances, that’s dangerous,” said Third District Cmdr. Larry McCoy.
In most of the cases, the suspect grabbed female pedestrians, made derogatory sexual comments and tried to fondle them, police said. Twice he was armed with a green-handled kitchen knife.
The suspect is described as a black male, between 18 and 21 years old, about 5-feet, 8-inches tall, with a short bushy haircut. He appeared to have something wrong with his mouth or jaw when he spoke. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a long T-shirt and blue jeans and black tennis shoes, possibly the Nike brand.
University authorities are urging students and staff to be aware of their surroundings when traveling on foot, especially during hours of darkness. Police recommend that travelers walk in a group and avoid dark or poorly lit areas or taking shortcuts through tunnels, parking lots or alleys. They urge people to use the shuttle or call the student escort service.
