Washington Commanders rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. sustained multiple gunshot wounds in his lower body during an attempted robbery in Washington, D.C. He remained hospitalized Sunday while in stable condition, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced details of the incident, said that Robinson’s injuries are considered to be non-life threatening.
Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck said officers responded shortly before 6 p.m. local time to a reported shooting in the 1000 block of H Street Northeast, a well-trafficked area filled with restaurants and bars.
Sternbeck said the lone victim in the shooting sustained two gunshot wounds to their lower extremities and was taken to an area hospital. The suspects fled the scene before police arrived, but officers did find a firearm nearby, Sternbeck added. They believe the victim was targeted in an attempted armed robbery.
The police department also wrote on Twitter that, as of Sunday evening, it was on the lookout for “two black juvenile males with shoulder length dreads, medium complexion, wearing a black or brown shirt with yellow smiley faces on it.”
“We have been made aware that Brian Robinson Jr. was the victim of an attempted armed robbery or carjacking in Washington D.C.,” the Commanders said in a statement released Sunday night. “He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently being treated at the hospital, where Team officials are on-site with him. We ask that you please respect Brian’s privacy at this time.”
Coach Ron Rivera later tweeted that he had visited Robinson and said he was “in good spirits.”
Robinson, a third-round pick out of Alabama, had shined during training camp and the preseason and the Commanders planned for him to have a major role in the offense as the starting running back. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Robinson didn’t play in Saturday’s preseason finale because he had secured his roster spot and position atop the depth chart.
Contributing: Tom Schad