A rookie running back for the NFL’s Washington Commanders was shot multiple times Sunday night in an apparent attempted robbery in the nation’s capital, police said.
Running back Brian Robinson, who starred at University of Alabama before being selected by the team in the third round of this year’s NFL draft, was taken to a city hospital with what the team termed “non-life-threatening injuries.” Police said he was shot in the “lower extremities” and were trying to determine if he was the victim of a car-jacking attempt.
“We have been made aware that Brian Robinson Jr. was the victim of an attempted armed robbery or carjacking in Washington D.C.,” the team said in a statement. “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.”
Commanders RB Brian Robinson was shot today in an attempted robbery. Thankfully, he's in stable condition. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/UiJsR2WXFc
— theScore (@theScore) August 28, 2022
According to a team spokesman, co-owners Dan and Tanya Snyder, president Jason Wright, coach Ron Rivera, team physician Dr. Anthony Casolaro and Dr. Barbara Roberts, a clinical psychologist, were all at the hospital with Robinson.
Metro Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the incident happened shortly before 6 p.m. ET in the 1000 block of H Street, NE, in the district. The location is in the Carver Langston neighborhood, just northeast of Capitol Hill. Police responded to a report of shots fired and found Robinson suffering from “a couple gunshot wounds to his lower extremities,” Sternbeck said.
Police have identified two potential suspects and recovered a gun near the crime scene.
Robinson had stood out in training camp this season and appeared poised to be the team’s starting running back. He was with the team for its preseason finale at Baltimore Saturday night but did not participate.
The 6-foot, 1-inch, 230-pound Robinson emerged as a starter as a fifth-year senior at Alabama last year, rushing for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns as the Crimson Tide made it to the college football championship game, losing 33-18 to Georgia.