D.C. Police Arrest Suspect In Fatal Shooting At Catholic University

Police announced on Tuesday the arrest of a suspect in connection to a fatal shooting on the campus of Catholic University in Washington, D.C., last week.

Jaime Maceo, a 22-year-old from Northwest D.C. also known as Jaime Macedo, was detained pursuant to a D.C. Superior Court arrest warrant and is charged with First Degree Murder while Armed, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said in a news release.

“The Metropolitan Police Department would like to thank the community for their information and tips that helped progress the investigation,” MPD said.

UPDATE: Max Emerson’s mom tells me investigators called her ~2pm today to tell her they made an arrest in connection with her son’s murder in DC last week: “Relieved, one step closer to deeper healing.”

25yo was visiting from Kentucky when shot & killed on Catholic U campus pic.twitter.com/7aerZ8E2YN

— Homa Bash (@HomaBashNews) July 11, 2023

Police said the killing of 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson, of Crestwood, Kentucky, took place Wednesday, July 5, on the 600 block of Alumni Lane in Northeast D.C., which is on the campus of Catholic University outside Father O’Connell Hall.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting at around 8:22 a.m. and found Emerson, who was transported to a local hospital by D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services and succumbed to his wounds despite lifesaving efforts, MPD said.

Emerson has been identified as a high school teacher and assistant wrestling coach who was visiting the nation’s capital with his family and was on his way to a conference at the Library of Congress when the violent confrontation took place.

Police previously indicated a suspicion that Emerson and the gunman knew each other and got into an argument after walking onto campus, but Emerson’s family insisted to Fox 5 that there was no prior connection between them. The family also said they received a Snapchat message from Emerson that read, “Help. Bring ribbed At cub point,” right before the attack which they determined was meant to say he was being robbed and held at gunpoint.

MDP released surveillance camera images of a suspect on Friday and noted that police offer a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading up to an arrest and conviction of anyone who has committed a homicide.

MPD seeks a suspect in reference to a homicide that occurred on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, in the 600 Block of Alumni Lane, Northeast.

Release: https://t.co/GWarhA3TVJ pic.twitter.com/IBngJb0Kk0

— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) July 7, 2023

While it was not immediately clear whether Macedo had an attorney in the case, as reported by The Washington Post, court records indicate he had prior run-ins with law enforcement, a guilty plea for an illegal gun possession charge, and probation violations in recent years.

“Our prayers have been answered,” Emerson’s father, Steve Emerson, told NBC Washington after the arrest. “We’re happy an arrest in the murder of our son has been made. Not only happy that he’s off the street but that the community and D.C. is a little bit safer.”

Following a prayer service on Thursday outside Father O’Connell Hall, Catholic University President Peter Kilpatrick issued message on Friday expressing remorse for the loss of Emerson, noting that he was not a member but still a “brother” to the community, while also commenting on crime.

“Let us pray for a conversion of hardened hearts and for those who inflict violence on our streets,” Kilpatrick said. “May they find inspiration here on campus and the light of God’s love in their hearts.”