Delivery driver on scooter found shot near Catholic University of Washington – NBC4 Washington

A man who worked as a food delivery driver to feed his seven children and send money home to Venezuela was found shot to death Monday night near the campus of the Catholic University of America in northeast DC.

The victim was Ruben Muñoz-Romero of Takoma Park, Maryland, police said. He was 38 years old.

Muñoz-Romero worked day and night to support his family, his brother Samuel Muñoz told News4 partner Telemundo 44.

“A hardworking man. A man who worked so he could send money to his family, his mother and all his loved ones,” he said in Spanish.

Muñoz-Romero was observed falling off a moped in the 400 block of Michigan Avenue NE, just steps from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. DC Police arrived at about 7:55 p.m. and found Muñoz-Romero had been shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to preliminary investigations, police believe that Muñoz-Romero was shot in a location other than “in the immediate vicinity of the Catholic University campus” and then rode his moped to the place where he died.

Muñoz-Romero’s brother said he was shocked by the crime and said seven children were orphaned.

Muñoz-Romero had moved to the United States about two years ago and had only been working as a food delivery driver for a few months, his brother said. The victim had hoped the United States would be safer than Venezuela.

The investigation is ongoing. It is still unclear who shot Muñoz-Romero, where and why.

“Pray with me”

After Muñoz-Romero’s death, Catholic University went into protection mode for about an hour.

University President Peter Kilpatrick asked the campus community to pray for Muñoz-Romero.

“Please join me in praying for the soul of the victim who lost his life and convey our prayers and sincere condolences to his friends and family,” he said in a letter.

Kilpatrick said he believed Muñoz-Romero had no connection to the university.

The university president has previously informed students about crime in the area. Earlier this year, a 14-year-old middle school student was shot and killed on the platform of the Brookland-CUA subway station. Last summer, a teacher who was visiting Washington, DC for work was shot and killed on campus after telling his mother that someone was trying to rob him at gunpoint.

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Anyone with potentially relevant information about Muñoz-Romero’s murder is asked to contact police. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.