D.C. police are investigating attempted robbery as a possible motive in the murder of a Falls Church woman near Howard University Tuesday night, sources tell ABC 7's Jennifer Donelan.

The victim, 47-year-old Barbara Carl, was in the passenger seat of a vehicle parked near the intersection of 9th Street and Barry Place NW about 10:30 p.m., said police.

Sources say the victim had just eaten at a nearby McDonald's with her fiance, who was driving.

Once they were back in their car, a group of men approached the vehicle. The fiance tried to drive away. At least one member of the group opened fire; the victim was shot in the chest.

The victim's fiance drove her to Howard University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Some in the community expressed concern.

"It's right by campus. We have campus police driving around [but] that doesn't really assure me because anything can happen at any given time," said senior R'Kheim Young.

"You don't expect this kind of thing to be around where you live," said Nathanial Isong.

 The family didn't want to speak on camera but described Carl as loving mother of two teenage sons.

"I feel horrible for her family, my heart goes out to them," said neighbor Christine Gumlia.

It was one of two fatal shootings overnight in the District.

At 12:11 a.m. Wednesday, officers discovered the body of a 19-year-old man in the 1500 block of F Street NE. He appeared to have been shot several times, police said.

The victim was identified as Robert Mallory, of the 1300 block of Talbert Street, SE.

Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to call police at 202-727-9099 or 1-818-919-CRIME. Anonymous information can also be sent to the department's text tip line by text messaging 50411.

The Metropolitan Police Department (web|news) offers a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.