A 27-year-old Democratic National Committee staffer has died after being shot multiple times in the back in Washington, D.C.

Seth Rich, director of voter expansion for the DNC, was gunned down on a quiet residential street at around 4.20am on Sunday.

He was found conscious and breathing by police who had been patrolling the area and heard gunshots. Rich was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5.57am.

His death comes just two days after he shared a post on Facebook appealing for an end to gun violence.

Seth Rich, director of voter expansion for the DNC, was gunned down in a street at 4am on Sunday

Last Facebook post: Rich appealed for an end to gun violence in his last status, which was posted on Friday

The attack took place across the street from a convenience store on the 2100 block of Flagler Place NW, three blocks away from Howard University Hospital. It was not far from where Rich lived in a brownstone

He wrote on Friday: 'I reiterate back to people stop hating each other. Too much pain to process. We have to be better and defend each other more true.

'A life is exponentially valuable. I have family and friends on both sides of the law. Please, stop killing each other.'

His death comes after a spate of robberies in the neighborhood and DC police are now investigating if the murder is connected to those.

According to Fox 5, just an hour before the shooting there was a violent robbery in the 900 block on N Street, where police said three suspects pistol whipped, beat, kicked and robbed three people.

There were no witnesses to Rich's shooting, police said.

The attack took place across the street from a convenience store on the 2100 block of Flagler Place NW, three blocks away from Howard University Hospital.

It was not far from where Rich lived in a brownstone with three or four roommates, according to the Washington Post.

One of his roommates told the Post that Rich was likely walking home from his girlfriend's house at the time.

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz paid tribute to Rich (center) as a 'dedicated, selfless public servant'

Describing himself on LinkedIn, Rich wrote: 'I have an enormous interest in public service and working towards making the world a better place'

One of his roommates said Rich was likely walking home from his girlfriend's house at the time

Colleagues have paid tribute to Rich's infectious smile and strong work ethic

Describing himself on LinkedIn, Rich wrote: 'I have an enormous interest in public service and working towards making the world a better place.'

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement on Monday morning: 'Our hearts are broken with the loss of one of our DNC family members over the weekend.

'Seth Rich was a dedicated, selfless public servant who worked tirelessly to protect the most sacred right we share as Americans – the right to vote.

'He saw the great potential of our nation and believed that, together, we can make the world a better place.'

Speaking KMTV, Rich's father Joel said: 'If it was a robbery-it failed because he still has his watch, he still has his money-he still has his credit cards, still had his phone so it was a wasted effort except we lost a life.

Rich's father Joel (right) said: 'If it was a robbery-it failed'. His mother Mary (left) said: 'Our son may have had a short life but he had a very wonderful life that he smiled and enjoyed.

He said his son was talking to his girlfriend on the phone outside when the incident happened.

He added: 'She asked him if he was home yet and he said just about, and then she heard some noise, he said he had to call her back-I don't know when that conversation ended but at 4.18 two shots were fired.'

Rich;s mother Mary said: 'Our son may have had a short life but he had a very wonderful life that he smiled and enjoyed.'

And added: 'I've just got to remember all of the good and the positive and that's what we will make Seth's life of value versus wasting it.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Rich graduated with a BA in political science from Nebraska's Creighton University in 2011.

While studying, he worked for the US Census Bureau and the Nebraska Democratic Party, and interned for Senator Ben Nelson.

Donna Brazile, Vice Chair of the DNC, wrote a four-part statement on Twitter on Monday

While studying at Creighton University, Rich worked for the Nebraska Democratic Party

His first job out of college was as a research associate for the opinion research firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.

In 2014, he took up his position at the DNC, which starts its all-important convention on July 25.

He grew up in Omaha, where his family played a strong role in the Beth El Synagogue.

His grandfather was a founding member of the synagogue and his father was head of the congregation until recently.

Rich studied Hebrew at the synagogue, and traveled to Israel two years ago. His teacher paid tribute to Rich on Facebook, calling him 'a dynamic young man who loved his work at the DNC.'

Flowers have since been placed were Rich was murdered. A neighbor placed the first flowers and told police: 'Please find him [the killer]', according to Fox 5's Van Applegate

As the evening wore on more flowers were added to the growing memorial on the corner of the DC neighborhood, as residents paid their respects

As a student at Central High School he was part of the school debate team which reached the national championships. He was also a member of the choir, the soccer club, and the student Democrats.

Jane Kleeb, chairwoman-elect of the Nebraska Democratic Party, told Omaha.com that Rich's smile will 'never be forgotten by anyone in his home state of Nebraska.'

She added later in a statement on Twitter: 'Our Democratic family grieves the loss of a young Nebraskan who worked on campaigns and stood up on progressive issues.

'Gun violence is a serious problem in our nation and needs an answer to stop this senseless loss of life.'

And Donna Brazile, Vice Chair of the DNC, wrote a four-part statement on Twitter on Monday.

'Seth was on the front lines for voting rights. Man fatally shot in D.C. was a Democratic National Committee staffer,' she wrote.

Police were also seen handing out flyers (right) appealing for help from the public, which offers a up to $25,000 reward money for information leading to an arrest and conviction

Police are also combing through surveillance footage in a bid to map out what led to Rich being shot

She added: 'Seth was a young man on a mission. He believed in the right to vote and took a position to help expand voter protection. Grieving.

'Remember his name and add him to the rolls of justice. #SethConradRich. He lived to make a difference. He believed in voting rights.

'The Democratic National Committee is in deep mourning. We loss [sic] a young man who dedicated his life to voting rights and voter expansion.'

Flowers have since been placed were Rich was murdered. A neighbor placed the first flowers and told police: 'Please find him [the killer]', according to Fox 5's Van Applegate.

As the evening wore on more flowers were added to the growing memorial on the corner of the DC neighborhood, as residents paid their respects.

Police were also seen handing out flyers appealing for help from the public, which offers a up to $25,000 reward money for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Police are also combing through surveillance footage in a bid to map out what led to Rich being shot.