“They sound awful, like ‘Ooop!’” she recently told the I-Team, trying to mimic the sound her car makes as she navigates potholes on the street outside her home in Capitol Heights.

Stewart said she and neighbors have complained about the street for years.

“They won’t fix it,” Stewart said.

A neighbor showed the I-Team a December 2022 letter from the Office of the County Executive telling them, “Staff is investigating your street to identify the potholes you describe,” adding they will “address immediate pothole issues.”

Nearly two years later, any fixes made in the interim have not held up. The street remains in rough condition.

Via 311, the county has received 22 service call requests for Carmody Hill Drive since mid-February 2022. These include calls related to potholes and issues such as illegal dumping and roadway emergencies. Eighteen calls were closed or resolved and four open tickets remain, the county said.

Theodore Flythe, who lives just doors away from Stewart, told the I-Team the street has never looked any better “since I lived here.” He moved onto Carmody Hills Drive 33 years ago, in 1991.

It’s likely not the worst road in Maryland, and maybe not the worst road you drive on, but it’s their road, and after years of complaining, they want it fixed.

“As soon as possible would be fine with me,” Flythe said.

But that won’t happen anytime soon.

What Prince George’s County says about road repairs

“You know, it’s going to take a couple of fiscal years, two or three fiscal years, for us to be able to get our own to some of the streets,” Prince George’s County Director of Public Works Michael Johnson told us.

Every road in the county gets a score through Prince George’s Pavement Assessment & Management System. The residents’ stretch of Carmody Hills Drive got 17.56 points. A perfectly paved road would get 100 points.

The scores are initially determined by a scan of the roads using a camera and a laser-equipped van every five to 10 years. They are updated by an algorithm in the interim.

The I-Team checked all 2,000 miles of Prince George’s County’s roads. We found at least 47 roads rated worse than Carmody Hills Drive. When we shared that list with Johnson and his team, he told us just one of those 47 roads are currently planned for repair.

“The listing that you looked at was really just a very small micro-sample of the total roads. It’s like 6.3 miles of the more than 2,000 miles that we’re operating,” Johnson told us. The I-Team examined every road in the county, but asked Public Works about those that scored lower than Carmody Hills Drive on the county’s assessment program.

Budget figures show the Prince George’s County Paving and Pothole Repair Program has roughly the same amount of money it did in 2019, with just a 3.7% increase. In the interim, the budget had increased, but the county was not able to sustain the higher level.

Johnson said the county has enough money to pave 48 miles of road a year. It costs $750,000 to pave every mile of road. Johnson said the new system is about equity across the county, which means they don’t necessarily tackle the worst roads first.

“Worst first will actually produce – be very expensive to do and will give us a lower overall performance.”

Prince George’s County’s county-wide average road condition has improved since Johnson took over. That’s his stated goal. It’s not up by much, but according to department statistics, the trend is going the right way. Under their system, however, if you live on one of those bad roads, you may have to wait for improvements.

Johnson said any underground utility repairs must be completed before a road can be repaved. And that, Johnson said, is the case on Carmody Hills Drive.

When picking other roads, Johnson said the county spends money fixing a mix of streets already in bad condition and preventing OK roads form getting worse.

The county lists all of its planned repairs for this year here.

‘I don’t think it’s working’

That’s not fast enough for Councilmember Kristal Oriadha, who represents the Capitol Heights neighborhood we visited.

“There is no excuse that I’ve heard in any committee hearing that makes sense to me, because even if you can’t repave the entire road, we should have a better system to actually repair it,” Oriadha told the I-Team.

Council members used to have more input on paving decisions. They don’t under a new system. It may make sense in an algorithm or a budget book, but it is a tough sell on the street.

“I don’t think it’s working. I don’t see that showing up in my community,” Oriadha said.

Flythe, one of the residents, said, “I think we deserve to get to it, for it to be fixed, actually.”

And as she surveyed the divots, Stewart, another resident, shook her head.

“I deserve a nice street,” she told the I-Team.

Go here to see Prince George’s County road conditions.

The shooting happened on busy Collington Road in Bowie Thursday morning. The man says he got out of his vehicle to get a hat that had blown out of the car. That’s when he says he was confronted by an officer who fired a shot.

That shot hit another vehicle that was not involved in the incident.

“I thought I died on that highway,” the man said.

He doesn’t want to show his face or give his name, but he wants to share his story.

It was 8 a.m. when a Bowie police officer fired a shot, the man says, after confronting him while he was outside his girlfriend’s car retrieving a hat that had blown out the window earlier.

His girlfriend and their kids were still in their jeep.

“As I was approaching the car, the officer asked me, was I getting in the car, was I with her. I proceeded to say yes, and then all I heard was a shot fired, and then I dropped to the ground,” he said.

He dropped because he believed he’d been shot, but the bullet hit the side of a vehicle that was passing by.

“As soon as my ears stopped ringing, I turned around and asked the officer why did he shoot me,” he said.

But he didn’t get that answer, and that’s the center of an investigation

Bowie Police said the officer had pulled over to assist what was believed to be a stranded driver.

A statement from the department says, “Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer discharged their firearm. The reason for the discharge is being investigated. No one was injured, but an uninvolved vehicle passing by was struck.”

The man who was retrieving his hat said he never even saw the officer draw his weapon.

He shared a video, which he recorded himself, after the shooting

“Why did your officer shoot at me for no reason?” the man asked in the video

“Do you want them to check your head out?” the officer responded.

“Yes sir,” the man can be heard saying.

“Alright,” the officer responded.

The man says no one responded to his questions.

He told News4 he was not under investigation and was not given any commands before the shot was fired.

“I was never told to stop, put your hands up, get on the ground, stand here, none of that,” he said.

He’s asking Bowie Police to release any body worn camera video that shows exactly what happened.

The Prince George’s County Police Special Investigative response team is conducting the investigation.

Bowie’s police chief says in-car and officer body camera will be reviewed as part of the investigation. The officer is on administrative leave.

Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester marks the milestone by saying that the reason she does this work is not about making history, “but to make a difference, an impact, on people’s lives.”

Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks said that people like her, and stories like hers, don’t usually make it to the U.S. Senate, “but they should.”

If the two Democratic candidates prevail in their elections this November, their arrival would double the number of Black women — from two to four — who have ever been elected to the Senate, whose 100 members have historically been, and continue to be, mostly white men.

Never in the Senate have two Black women served together at the same time.

“I have to pause and think, How is that possible?” asked Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

“It’s not that white male attorneys’ perspective shouldn’t be at the table,” said Walsh, but “they shouldn’t be the only thing at the table.”

To be sure, there are a many stairs to climb before Senate history would be made this election, where not only the White House, but control of Congress is being fiercely contested, and essentially a toss-up. The Senate races, in particular, are heated, grueling and costly.

Blunt Rochester is almost assured to defeat the Republican candidate after Tuesday’s uncontested primary for the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Carper in the small state that is home to President Joe Biden and where she is the at-large representative to the House. But the race in Maryland between Alsobrooks and Republican Larry Hogan, the popular former governor, is expected to be tight to the finish — and it could determine which party takes majority control in the Senate.

Alsobrooks upended conventional wisdom to beat back wealthy David Trone in the primary to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin by amassing deep grass roots and party support, showcased in a notable campaign ad with hundreds of backers. She is the former State’s Attorney for sprawling Prince George’s County and is now its top County Executive.

On their private text chain Blunt Rochester says they call themselves “sister senator to be,” as they run down-ballot from Vice President Kamala Harris — a friend and colleague who became the second Black woman ever elected to the Senate when she won in 2016 — in her own historic run for the White House.

The first Black woman elected to the Senate, Democratic Sen. Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois in 1992, served a single term. Harris was the second. And a third Black woman, Sen. Laphonza Butler, was appointed to fill out the term of long-serving California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died in 2023.

“People are anxious and excited at the same time,” said Glynda C. Carr, the president and CEO of Higher Heights for America, an organization that works to elect Black women to office.

What’s striking about their campaigns is the way the two women embrace their own backgrounds but also, like Harris, don’t dwell on the historic firsts they would bring to the job, leaving it to the voter to see their Blackness and hear their voices as women.

“The vast majority of us know that we have so much more in common than what separates us,” Harris said on the debate stage this week, brushing past Trump as he revived questions about her race.

On the campaign trail Blunt Rochester has shared the story of the Reconstruction Era documents showing her great, great, great-grandfather, who had been enslaved in Georgia, as now having the right to vote.

As she reminisces on that history, “what we’ve come through as a country,” she said she also thinks of what she will pass on to her own new baby granddaughter.

“There isn’t a cookie cutter way to run” for office, Blunt Rochester told AP.

Blunt Rochester and Harris are close, both entering Congress the same year and often sitting together at Congressional Black Caucus events. “The most important thing is that we show up as our authentic selves,” she said, adding “because it requires all of our different and diverse lived and work experiences.”

Alsobrooks launched her campaign for the Senate in a video telling her family’s story of leaving South Carolina for Maryland after her great-grandfather was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy after a traffic stop.

As a young prosecutor she first met Harris, then attorney general in California, a friendship that formed more than a decade ago.

But unlike 2016, when Hillary Clinton ran for president in a white suit symbolic of the suffragettes, the 2024 Senate candidates are positioning themselves more broadly in a way that may appeal to a wider electorate but also signals the cultural shift as the country becomes more diverse and Congress becomes more reflective of the electorate.

“We learned from 2016, we’re not going to lead with identity in the same way that Hillary Clinton did,” said Aimee Allison, founder of She the People, an organization that supports women of color in American leadership.

Allison said a new generation of candidates is showing you can be “holding multiple identities” at once. “It’s demonstrating you have a heart for people who you’re not like … but deserve to be served by government and deserve representation.”

The challenges Black women face to get to this point in the campaign are steep, rooted in a two-party political system that has often been slow to support Black women candidates and quick to doubt their ability to win statewide office, despite the qualifications.

Over the years, the parties have not always shared ample resources with Black women candidates who strategists said proved they could have had more success in several close races, creating a Catch-22 loop that reinforces biased attitudes against their electability.

In fact, the Senate may have been poised to swear in another Black woman, Rep. Barbara Lee, who ran for the open seat from California after Feinstein’s death but fell short during a multi-candidate primary. Rep. Adam Schiff ran a strong campaign to become the Democratic front-runner with wide party support and is expected to handily win the seat that is now filled temporarily by Butler. Others have faced tough political odds, including Democrat Valerie McCray this year in Republican-heavy Indiana.

With the Senate heading toward a 50-50 split, tens of millions of dollars are being spent in Maryland, where the popular Hogan was recruited by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to help the GOP win back the majority.

Hogan and Alsobrooks appear to generally appreciate one another. Alsobrooks said Hogan was a good governor, but warns that in the Senate he would be a decisive GOP vote.

Hogan’s campaign said he greatly respects Alsobrooks, and is proud of the work they did together during his administration.

“Our campaign has been laser-focused on Maryland and Marylanders — their local concerns and priorities, and the opportunity to elect an independent swing vote who will put the best interests of the state above party-line politics,” said Hogan campaign spokeswoman Blake Kernen.

During the Democratic National Convention the two women candidates held an event at a historic Black history museum in Chicago with Moseley Braun delivering remarks and Butler introducing them.

Blunt Rochester, noting her own powder blue power suit with its padded foundation, said she’s standing on the shoulders of those who came before her and has strong shoulders ready for those who come next.

When the shooting stopped, shoppers saw two injured men on the ground. Their injuries are described as non-life threatening.

The window of the Pizza Boli’s in the Penn Station Shopping Center on Silver Hill Road was shattered by a bullet.

The shooting happened at 4:45 p.m., just as a customer was entering the store.

You can hear — but not see — the impact in security camera video.

A delivery driver was in his car outside, just feet away.

“I heard a sporadic shot, ‘bang, bang, bang,’” he said. “Before I could realize what was going on, this glass was done.”
They were leaning out of the car

Naser Ahmed, the pizza business’s owner, says the crime is frustrating, noting his store was robbed just a few days ago.

One of my employees, and he work in the front side, he taking order, he’s very scared. He’s crying,” Ahmed said. “And my other employee, he tried to go in attic because it’s a bad situation right now.”

The bullet may have traveled a distance. The pizza shop is nearly a football field away, across the busy parking lot from the spot where the two shooting victims were found.

A number of shoppers’ cars in the immediate area were damaged by gunfire …including this jeep. Another SUV nearby appeared to have been hit in a rear tire.

There are security cameras in several businesses, and a police crime camera in the parking lot. It’s not clear if they are providing any information that would help investigators.

Alex Delgado, 20, of Silver Spring, and the 17-year-old, of New Carrollton, are accused of killing 18-year-old Anibal Suazo from Lothian, Maryland.

Police did not name the 17-year-old but said that the teen is being charged as an adult.

Police responded to the 4700 block of Kenilworth Avenue at 6 p.m. after a shooting was reported. Officers discovered Suazo suffering from a gunshot wound. He died on the scene.

The shooting also injured Delgado and a woman. They were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Police recovered two guns on the scene.

“Everybody ducked and started running away. Seconds later, we heard more gunshots,” one man said.

One witness said they heard some sound coming from the middle of the laundromat and saw two people fighting before a couple of gunshots went off. When people started running , the witness said there were “a lot more gunshots.”

Patrons took cover until police arrived.

The 17-year-old fled the scene in a car. He was arrested later by police after a pursuit with a Prince George’s County Guardian helicopter.

A preliminary investigation revealed Delgado and the teen suspect targeted Suazo at the laundromat, police said. According to police, both suspects knew Suazo. When they approached him, they started to physically assault him, police said.

During the fight, Delgado shot Suazo and the woman and then Suazo returned fire, police said.

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At the laundromat on Monday, a woman told News the 18-year-old shot and killed was her sister’s boyfriend. Her sister, who’s also 18, was shot four times in her feet and leg.

“She’s doing good. She’s stable. She’s in the hospital, waiting to get surgery,” she said.

Two clothes dryers were taped over and out of service on Monday. A woman showed bullet holes in a shirt she had inside a dryer with the gunfire began.

“Everybody started crying. It’s too difficult for me,” she said.

Despite the shooting, the laundromat opened on time at 6 a.m. Monday.

Some people retrieved belongings they left behind in the chaos; others had no idea there had been a murder.

Prince George’s County police are conducting an investigation into the motive for the assault and shooting. They said that it appeared to be an isolated incident and there was no threat to the public.

The laundromat owner said he had been in business for five years and never had any trouble. He described the shooting as an isolated, targeted incident and said he’s cooperating with investigators.

If anyone has information relevant to this investigation and would like to speak to a Homicide Unit detective, they are asked to please call 301-516-2512.

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

The board gave unanimous approval on Thursday to the Prologis warehouse planned for Livingston Road.

The group Fort Washington Forward has held demonstrations against the project, which they said will bring truck traffic to an area that’s already congested.

“No warehouse on Livingston Road” and “A warehouse? We deserve better!” protest signs carried by residents said.

Fort Washington Forward joined neighbors and community organizations in speaking against the plan at a virtual meeting Thursday.

“Allowing large and/or 18-wheeler trucks into this environment is a reckless decision,” one resident said.

“This neighborhood should be a priority for relief, not more harmful development that erodes our health, quality of life and wealth,” Staci Hartwell of the Prince George’s County NAACP said.

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Critics said a new, 140,00-square-foot warehouse would add to traffic on nearby Route 210, which has been called the Highway of Death because of the number of traffic deaths there.

Representatives for Prologis called the company a good corporate citizen. The land on which the warehouse will build was a vehicle salvage yard for years. Representatives said the company has done extensive cleanup work, including removing contaminated soil.

“Prologis was attracted to this specific site because it was zoned industrial and it’s located in a major transportation corridor,” a representative said during Thursday’s meeting.

Opponents said the plan does not fit the long-term vision for the community, which includes plans to add traffic-calming measures and become more friendly to pedestrians and cyclists.

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Board members expressed some reservations about the project but said the developer had met requirements and planned to improve the property.

Members of Fort Washington Forward told News4 they will keep fighting the project.

The advisory will affect customers in Clinton, Rosaryville, Marlton, Brandywine, Accokeek and part of Fort Washington.

The “conservation request” affects about 110,000 residents of southern Prince George’s County. Customers can type their address into an interactive map to see if they are in the affected area.

Crews will work around the clock starting early Thursday to replace a failing section of a concrete cylinder pipe water transmission main. The work is expected to take take three days to complete.

In Brandywine, the owner of New York Italian Deli & Restaurant said he fears the water restrictions will force him to temporarily close the business.

“If worse comes to worse, we have to shut down,” owner John Russo said, noting that all of his employees would suffer.

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WSSC Water encourages customers to wash dishes and do their laundry before the work begins.

WSSC Water is asking customers to do the following:

• Stop all outside water use – no watering lawns, washing cars or topping off swimming pools
• Use water only, as necessary – i.e., take shorter showers and quickly turn off faucets immediately after use
• Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use)
• Limit using washing machines and dishwashers to full loads only

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Following these guidelines could prevent a boil water advisory and will help preserve water for fire protection, officials said.

Officials said that if it rains while crews are working, WSSC Water will close portions of Dower House Road from Woodyard Road to Old Marlboro Pike to local traffic only. Dower House Road will be completely closed to all traffic between Old Pike Way and Pearl Harbor Drive.

Yana’s happy as can be to be back in the loving care of her owner Sophia Radich.
The two had been inseparable until they were forcibly ripped away from each other Saturday morning.

“I’m just very relieved to have Yana back,” Radich said. “I’m so grateful that she’s back in my arms. I tried not to lose hope.”

Radich calls it the scariest moment of her life. She was walking Yana Saturday morning along Avondale Overlook Drive when she was approached by two suspects. Radich says they looked like young teens.

Ring camera video shows one of them tussle over Yana’s leash before pulling out a gun and pointing it at Radich’s head.

“I was like, ‘Wait, is this really happening? This is crazy.’ It didn’t feel real at all, but it was. It was very real and I’m glad it’s over.”

Radich got to work putting up fliers and posting on social media, asking for help in finding her beloved dog.

Radich says she had to deal with painful scam calls from people just trying to swindle the reward money from her, but eventually she got the call she had been desperately hoping for.

Sunday afternoon someone who had seen Yana’s missing poster found the dog at their apartment complex. Radich rushed over and was thrilled when she realized her fur baby was safe and sound.

“I was so relieved, and I was getting emotional when I saw her little face,” she said. “I was like, ‘That’s for sure Yana.’ This isn’t a hoax. This isn’t a prank. It felt really good.”

Radich says what she went through was emotionally exhausting and now no longer feels safe where she lives. Yana is staying with family members for the time being as Radich prepares to move.

Radich says support from loved ones and community members has meant so much to her and now that she’s back with Yana, she’s being spoiled even more than usual.

“She’s so special to me,” Radich said. “I’ve had her since she was just a puppy. She means everything to me. I’m just so grateful to have her back.”

Prince George’s County police continue to search for the suspects.

Police are asking anyone with information on the two suspects to contact them.

In footage from a neighbor’s ring camera, Sophia Radich can be seen walking with her small havanese dog named Yana.

WIthin seconds, two suspects can be seen approaching Radich and the dog. One of the suspects lunged at Radich and tried to take the dog away.

“‘Give me the dog, bleep,’” Radich described a suspect as saying.

“I was like very frazzled and in the moment,”she said.

During the tussle over Yana’s leash, one of the suspects can be seen pulling out a gun and pointing it at Radich’s head.

She tries to duck away. and the thief pulled the dog away.

The ring camera shows the suspect running from the scene.

“Like it does not feel real, it feels like a nightmare that I’m just going to wake up from,” Radich said. “They looked like from 12-15 years old, like throwing your life away just to rob someone’s dog, that’s insane, like that’s insane behavior,”

Radich says she’s had Yana since she was a puppy. The pair were preparing to go on a trip this morning to the beach before the armed robbery.

Now she says she’s hoping she can be reunited with her fur baby.

“She still means everything because I’m going to find her,” Radich said. “I don’t want to speak in past tense because I know we’re going to find her like alive and well.”

Prince George’s County Police are trying to locate the two suspects seen in the video.

Radich says she saw the suspects leaving in a black car.

Anyone with any information about this case is asked to contact police.

A Prince George’s County elementary school teacher is charged with sexually abusing his former student. The victim was just 9 years old when the alleged abuse began last year, and the man now under arrest is 44.

Court documents accuse Mark Edward Cobb, a teacher at Cooper Lane Elementary School, of contact with a 9-year-old girl he taught last year using text messages and through Roblox — an educational online game popular with children under 16 that has a chat feature.

Cobb allegedly asked for and received explicit images from the student, court documents said.

In one communication, Cobb is accused of asking the child “if he could taste her” which investigators categorize as asking the victim to engage in sex acts, according to court documents.

“I just can’t imagine how sick a person has to be to have this type of conversation — a very sexually explicit conversation — with a 9-year-old,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said. “With a 9-year-old. It’s outrageous.”

The communications occurred over a 14-month period, between June 2023 and August 2024, according to the documents and a police press release. Prince George’s County police say they were informed about the allegations on Sunday after the girl told her mom about sending the photos.

Security camera images show police officers and detectives serving a search warrant Monday at an apartment on Governor Bridge Road in Bowie. It’s listed in court documents as Cobb’s home.

Court documents say investigators found over 100 computer files depicting child sexual abuse material on a hard drive. Some of those files depict children engaging in sex acts with adults, the documents said. Police said they are trying to identify the children in those videos and may involve the FBI.

Cobb faces 10 charges related to child sexual abuse material.

In addition, police found a black bag containing child’s underwear, individually packaged. Several appeared to be worn.

“I’m still sick to my stomach from having read the charging documents,” Prince George’s County Council Chair Jolene Ivey said. “It’s the worst thing. And for that little girl, for her parents, for her schoolmates to know that man was grooming this child and took advantage of her and get some kind or perverse pleasure out of the abuse — it’s disgusting.”

Cobb’s attorney waived a hearing Wednesday, meaning Cobb will be held without bond until a future hearing.

The principal of Cooper Lane Elementary School released a statement confirming the deeply unsettling information and offering counselors for students and families.

Police say they haven’t discovered any other victims, but urge anyone with information to call detectives at 301-772-4930.

According to prosecutors, Mel Franklin took more than $124,000 from his Friends of Mel Franklin campaign account and used the money to pay for personal loans, credit card debt, his rent and cosmetic procedures, among other things. Franklin had no authority to use the money in the Friends of Mel Franklin bank accounts for his personal use or benefit, they said.

The charges also said Franklin falsified reports to the state board of elections regarding expenditures.

“As chairperson, Franklin had a duty to ensure that campaign finance reports were filed with the state board of elections, under the penalties of perjury,” the charging documents said.

Franklin pleaded guilty on Monday to felony theft scheme over $100,000 and perjury.

As part of the plea, he agreed to a sentence of five years, with all but one year suspended, on both counts. The sentences will run concurrently.

Franklin also agreed to pay $133,000 in restitution to the campaign. That money will go to a charitable organization.

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Franklin initially faced 10 counts of felony theft, embezzlement and perjury.

He will be sentenced officially Nov. 13.

Franklin had served on the Prince George’s County Council since 2010, first representing District 9 and then as an At-Large member starting in 2018.

The thefts occurred from 2020 through at least October 2023, according to the charges.

He resigned in June with two years left in his term. A special primary was held earlier this month for voters to begin the process of filling his seat. Jolene Ivey, D, and Michael Riker, R, won their parties’ primaries and will face off on Election Day this fall on Nov. 5.

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Crews completed work to connect an existing water main to the main that feeds the Camp Springs water tank Thursday morning.

On Aug. 19, the company asked customers to limit their water use to essentials only to avoid issuing a Boil Water Advisory.

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They say that customers in the Camp Springs area could have discolored water following the completed work. WSSC Water is asking customers to do the following if affected:

• Run all COLD water taps for about five minutes or until the water runs clear
• Begin with the lowest faucet in your home or business and then open the other faucets one at a time, moving from your lowest floor to your highest
• Once the water runs clear, usually in five minutes or less, turn off your faucets in the same order, lowest to highest
• You should also flush your refrigerator’s water lines

The work for the tank is not finished yet. Crews are expected to start working again in mid-September to make an additional connection to the water main. They say it should take about a month to complete.

If customers are experiencing any water or sewer emergency, customers can contact the WSSC Water Emergency Services Center at 301-206-4002.    

Crews are working to restore water flow to the Camp Springs water tank after they took a line out of service on Monday, causing an unexpected loss of water flow into the water tank.

They said they completed main water repairs Tuesday morning by putting the line back into service but still need time to fill the water tank.

“That allows us to maintain adequate pressure in the water tank and in the Camp Springs area for fire protection as well as water service to the customers,” Luis Maya, a spokesperson for WSSC Water, said.

The water advisory affects over 1,000 residents in Camp Springs, according to WSSC Water. Customers can type their address into an interactive map to see if they are in the affected area.

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WSSC Water is asking customers to do the following:

• Stop all outside water use – no watering lawns, no washing cars, no topping off swimming pools
• Use water only as necessary – i.e., take shorter showers and quickly turn off faucets immediately after use
• Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use)
• Limit using washing machines and dishwashers

News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Following these guidelines could prevent a Boil Water Advisory and will help preserve water for fire protection, officials said.

“If we would’ve lost a tank, that loses pressure in the system and that increases the risk for contamination in the area,” Maya said.

If customers in this area are experiencing low pressure or no water, please call the Emergency Services Center at 301-206-4002.

The changes come as an effort to fix major problems with school bus transportation, which have existed in the county for years. In the past, students have reported long wait times at bus stops with some buses not showing up at all.

“I had in the past where instruction is lost because the bus comes late or doesn’t come at all,” Cassandra Griffin, a Prince George’s County Public Schools parent, said.

At the meeting, parents expressed their experience with unreliable service and long rides to school. One parent brought up that there are “no sidewalks.”

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School leaders have been working to make bus routes more efficient by combining routes and adjusting walk zones.

“So we are asking students to walk a little further but we’re also taking precautions with our elementary students,” Keba Baldwin, the PGCPS transportation director, said. “If there’s opportunities to minimize their walk distance, we are doing that where appropriate.”

School leaders have pushed back school start times for some schools because of the bus route changes. The start times are roughly a 15-minute difference.

Parents are encouraged to sign up for the online information portal ParentVue, activate the school bus finder app StopFinder and set up notifications to be alerted when the bus picks up and drops off their child.

During this transition period, officials are asking for patience and grace from parents.

Check the Prince George’s County Public Schools website to learn more about the transportation changes and how they might affect your child’s first day of school.

Kaeden Holland was sentenced on an attempted murder charge to 60 years with all but 25 years suspended. He also was sentenced concurrently on firearms charges.

Holland, also known as “Baby K,” was charged as an adult for the 2023 attack, but was 15 years old at the time the attack took place.

Prosecutors say on May 1, 2023, Holland and the victim were both on a school bus in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

As News4 reported, the bus was stopped at Iverson Street and Sutler Drive when three young people boarded and began to attack the 14-year-old, police said. The assault was captured on the bus’ surveillance camera.

Holland held a gun to the victim’s head and pulled the trigger 3 times, but the gun jammed each time and did not fire.

“The gun made an audible click and the gun malfunctioned,” prosecutors said.

When the gun failed to fire the first time, Holland racked the gun to try to correct it and pistol-whipped the victim, “leaving an indentation of the barrel of the gun on his right side temple.”

Two other young people punched and kicked the boy.

Then Holland pulled the trigger a second time.

The gun malfunctioned again.

He racked it again and then hit the boy with the gun, his hands and his feet.

The boy tried to grab the gun away from him, but Holland pointed it at him and pulled the trigger a third time. Again, it did not fire.

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Holland pointed the gun at the school bus driver and bus aide, and then he and the two other young people ran away, prosecutors say. Police found three, live 9 mm cartridges on the floor of the bus, prosecutors said.

The 14-year-old victim was able to escape with only minor injuries, police said.

Holland pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and use of a gun in the commission of a crime earlier this year, in exchange for a 25-year sentence.

In March, the victim’s mother told News4 she’s thankful her son’s attacker will serve time, and she is getting help for her son.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said in March that she’s glad Holland took responsibility for his actions.

“It was important for Mr. Holland and other young people to know that there are consequences for your actions,” Braveboy said then.

After Friday’s sentencing, Braveboy released a statement.

““It’s our right in this community to be safe, to work and to live freely without the fear of being harmed,” the statement reads in part. “The school bus driver, aide and teenaged victim will forever be traumatized by what they experienced on that school bus. This 25 year sentence against Mr. Holland ensures that he will be held accountable for his horrific actions.”

In that release, Braveboy also stated that Holland would be incarcerated in an adult facility.

The two other teens involved in the attack were also charged as adults.

The suspect was taken into custody, Prince George’s County police said at about 11:30 a.m.

The standoff began at about 2:30 a.m. Friday in the 8200 block of 17th Avenue. Officers were called to a home for a report that someone fired shots. Outside, they found a family of eight adults and four children.

“It was believed the subject fired rounds outside and inside the home,” Deputy Chief Katina Gomez told reporters.

No one is believed to have been injured.

Police secured the area and warned neighbors of potential danger.

“Residents in the immediate vicinity are advised to shelter in place at the lowest level of their home,” police said in a brief statement.

Chopper4 footage shows armored tactical vehicles on a residential street and the front lawn of a home. The area is west of Riggs Road and south of the Adelphi Mill Recreation Center.

Police were able to take the suspect into custody “without incident,” Gomez said. His name and information on any charges against him were not immediately released.

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

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Virginia State Police issued an Amber Alert early Thursday after Dana Plummer, 36, of Virginia Beach, stabbed a woman and a child and then fled with his 7-year-old son, 5-year-old son and 16-month-old daughter.

Virginia State Police chased Plummer after attempting a traffic stop in Fairfax County, police said.

Chopper4 video shows a black SUV with serious damage to the front end, with the airbags deployed.

All three children were hurt, and the toddler died of her injuries at a hospital, Virginia Beach police said.

Zariyah Plummer was just 16 months old.

“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones who are grieving this morning,” Police Chief Paul Neudigate said in a statement. “This is an unimaginable tragedy, and on behalf of the VBPD, I extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this loss.”

The other two children were taken via ambulance to the hospital, where they are in stable condition, Maryland State Police said during a press conference.

Plummer was also injured, and also taken to the hospital, where he remains in police custody.

Plummer was charged with aggravated malicious wounding, parental abduction, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and domestic assault, Virginia Beach police said. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has a lawyer.

Plummer has not yet been charged in Maryland, pending the results of the ongoing investigation. Because the toddler died after the crash, which took place in Maryland, any charges related to that death will come from Maryland, Major Adam Stachurski of the Maryland State Police said.

The charges in the case are complicated by the fact that it crossed state lines.

A chase that began in Fairfax County ended in a Maryland crash

Virginia State Police tried to stop Plummer at about 8:45 a.m. in Fairfax County on I-95 near the 166 mile marker, state police said.

"A citizen recognized the vehicle from the Amber Alert and notified local law enforcement," Virginia Beach police said.

Plummer refused to stop and a chase began. He headed north onto the Beltway and into Maryland, taking the Branch Avenue exit off of I-495, where he lost control and crashed, police said.

Three children and a man were injured in the crash, Prince George's County's fire department said.

A helicopter rushed the 16-month-old girl to the hospital, Stachurski said during a press conference. She died there as a result of her injuries.

"The loss of any kind of child... it's heartbreaking, to say the least," Stachurski said.

Maryland police had not yet joined the chase when the crash took place, Stachurski said. Traffic camera video in Virginia shows police trailing the driver in rush-hour traffic.

Amber Alert was issued for 3 siblings in 'extreme danger'

Virginia State Police issued an Amber Alert at about 2 a.m. Thursday for three children ages 7, 5 and 16 months. Officials warned they were in "extreme danger."

The Virginia Beach Police Department said Plummer stabbed the children’s mother and then took the children at about 9 p.m. Wednesday.

“The children are believed to have been abducted by Dana Demetrius Plummer, 36, and may be traveling in a black 2024 Honda Passport SUV with temporary Virginia tags: 37555OR,” state police said.

“The children are believed to be in extreme danger and were last seen at Jay Are Court in Virginia Beach,” police continued.

In Virginia Beach, the stabbing victims were taken to hospitals and were in stable condition, police said.

Drivers in Maryland were advised to expect major delays.

Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact police.

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Ruben Gilbert was convicted of second-degree murder for stabbing Michelle Dudley to death at their apartment in Laurel in January 2023.

“He truly, truly took a beautiful soul, a beautiful soul,” said her sister, Monica Dudley.

Dudley said her sister’s 1-year-old son with Gilbert was at the apartment when it happened.

“It’s always going to be an unimaginable pain,” Dudley said. “There’s going to forever be a void.”

Michelle Dudley ran out of the apartment to get help, according to charging documents. Neighbors saw her bleeding and begging for help.

Witnesses told detectives Gilbert stabbed himself in the neck and yelled, “Why? What did I do?”

A judge sentenced Gilbert on Monday to serve 38 years in prison for the murder and another three years on a weapon charge.

“When you lose someone in the degree that we lost my sister, you’re always going to feel no amount of justice is going to be enough, but I do feel that every year that was handed down to Mr. Gilbert was fair,” Monica Dudley said.

She said her sister had a protective order.

“Brings me comfort knowing that now that he is incarcerated, that he doesn’t have the opportunity to ever do this to someone again,” Dudley said.

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She wants to advocate for victims of domestic violence.

“Hopefully, this will be an encouragement for other people that are going through this to break the silence, to speak up to get help before it’s too late,” she said.

Cellphone video shared with News4 shows rocks, chips of glass and the necks of glass bottles that were found on the playing field.

The findings prompted safety concerns among school staff and Maryland state Sen. Alonzo Washington.

“I came out to look at it and determined that it was unplayable,” he said.

Washington said he first heard about issues with the field last week, from the athletic department, and went to look. When he returned this week, he saw no improvements.

“There was glass throughout the field, and the soil that they provided here, there was large rocks. There was feces of birds and dogs that were in this field,” he said.

Prince George’s County Public Schools said they made plans to fix field surface issues at DuVal High School, Parkdale High School and Largo High School.

“We heard that there were concerns about the conditions of the field surface […] and so a plan was developed to immediately address those concerns,” Dr. Charoscar Coleman, the district’s chief operating officer, told News4.

Here’s why glass ended up on DuVal High School’s football field

So what went wrong? PGCPS said a first load of top soil was placed on DuVal High’s field earlier this month. That first load was inspected but the second was not.

“Our staff was not able to be there when the second load came and, apparently in that second load there was quite a bit of material in that dirt that contaminated the field. There was gravel and glass that was spread out through the field,” said Sam Stefanelli, the director of building services.

“Apparently there was an issue at the plant. This is what we’re getting from the vendor, that caused this issue,” he added.

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Here’s the plan for fixing the field

PGCPS said Thursday that the field will be shut down for repairs. The decision comes less than a week before the high school fall sports season starts.

“The school district will develop an alternative plan for the students to have a playable surface. For the fall, the students will also have access to a safe playing field for practice,” Coleman said.

PGCPS officials said they plan to remove and replace all the soil on the field, and that they hope student athletes will be able to play there before the end of the fall season.

Washington, the state senator, said he secured funding for field renovations.

News4 asked PGCPS for the name of the company that provided the soil. They said they could not share that information because of contract stipulations.

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The district said DuVal High is on a list of schools set to get comprehensive stadium renovations. That could begin in April 2025.

Fernando Alvarenga Cuellar, 38, appears to have been a random victim, Prince George’s County police said.

His sister said he was a landscaper and was loading his vehicle in front of his home when he was shot.

A carjacking two hours later led officers to three suspects, police said. They pursued a Chevrolet Equinox and a second carjacked vehicle into Southeast D.C.

The Equinox driver crashed on busy Marion Barry Avenue just before 5 p.m. and everyone got out and ran.

Two people were taken into custody at 15^th and U streets in Southeast — a 16-year-old and 25-year-old Deandre Boyd, who was charged with first-degree murder and carjacking. A third suspect also was arrested.

A gun was found in the Equinox, police said.

The shooting victim’s sister said he was always happy.

“He always made me laugh when I visited,” she said. “He always opened the refrigerator and say, ‘OK, what do you want?’ So, he’s very happy. You never see him mad or sad.”

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The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

The election seeks to replace ex-councilmember Mel Franklin after he resigned after being charged with embezzlement in June.

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According to the charges, he embezzled money from his Friends of Mel Franklin campaign account from 2020 through at least October 2023 to pay for personal expenses.

Voters will decide which Republican and Democrat candidate will move on to the general election in the race for the at-large seat in November.

The special general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Authorities have arrested a man in Guyana who’s believed to be responsible for the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old boy at a Fourth of July celebration in Maryland.

Investigators say the victim, Ahsan Payton, was caught in crossfire during a shootout at a neighborhood celebration in Temple Hills.

Police say Rakeem Gilgeours, 33, fled the country after the shooting, before he was identified as a suspect. He was arrested in Guyana and was brought back to the United States. He’s now in Florida awaiting extradition to Prince George’s County.

“That’s usually the case when anybody is running. They have friends or family somewhere, and they’re seeking cover,” Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz said. “And he was seeking cover in Guyana.”

Gilgeours is charged with second-degree murder.

“Call it tragic; call it a gun atrocity, whatever it is. Ahsan Payton isn’t with us, and we believe that this person is the reason why,” Aziz said.

New charging documents lay out what happened the night of the shooting on Akron Street. The suspect allegedly pointed a gun at another person, who is still unknown to police. That person then pulled a gun, and both began firing.

Witnesses told detectives that Gilgeours fell down, then raised his gun in the air and fired without regard for others in the area. That’s when the little boy was hit.

“To have the loss of a 6-year-old, Ahsan Payton, to this type of gun violence is totally not acceptable,” Prince George’s County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Barry Stanton said.

Gilgeours was identified as a suspect after police received multiple tips. One gave police the name Rakeem, while another gave them his nickname, ROC. Investigators say they found an Instagram page with that name and eventually identified Rakeem Gilgeours as a suspect. Police also recovered multiple photos and videos from the night of the shooting, allegedly showing Gilgeours at the scene.

They have not yet identified the second suspect.

Ahsan played for the Woodridge Warriors football team in Northeast D.C. The team’s new season started a week after his death. His coach said the season was being dedicated to him and that his number was being retired.

On Thursday, Ahsan’s football coach said he was glad a suspect was arrested. He said he hopes police catch everyone involved.

Police say two other people were hit by gunfire, but they were expected to be OK.

Prince George’s County police received 22 reports of tech support scams so far this year, totaling more than $500,000 in losses.

“Any type of communication in essence is opening the door, and really they want to find people who they can, you know, maybe of diminished capacity, maybe of vulnerable situations, that they can then manipulate,” Lt. Joseph Bellino said.

In one case last month, a woman received a pop-up message on her computer saying she had a virus and needed to call the number on her screen, police said. From there, she spoke with multiple scammers posing as a tech support employee, a representative from her bank and a Social Security Administration worker. Then the group emailed her a fraudulent letter.

“The victim then following the guidance of what she believed to be government officials, was told to withdraw in excess of $10,000 from her banking institution and then to meet with a representative from the Social Security Administration, who would then collect the funds,” Bellino said.

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A man picked up money from the victim’s address and drove off in a white Honda CRV, police said.

To avoid becoming a victim of such a scam, Prince George’s County police recommend:

• avoiding answering calls from unknown numbers
• never giving personal financial information to strangers
• calling software companies or antivirus companies directly with any issues

While she lived in Bowie and inside District 4 for years, some of her constituents grew concerned that something had changed, so one of them hired a private investigator to find out.

District 4 encompasses Bowie and parts of Upper Marlboro. The home the private detective recorded Watson coming and going from is also in Upper Marlboro, but it’s a mile outside of District 4 in District 6. 

The detective, who News4 is not identifying, explained why the constituent contacted him, saying, “It’s not like you could bring this issue to the police and the police are going to do something about it.” 

He said that for two weeks he documented Watson coming in and out of the home outside her District. He said he picked up on signs that suggested she lived there, saying, “What really drove it over the top for me was seeing her coming out in the morning, collecting the garbage pails that were out in the street, bringing those to the back of the house and taking her dog outside.”

The detective said the constituent expressed that they were not happy with Watson’s representation, which is why they paid thousands to confirm where she appeared to be living. 

The I-Team viewed the detective’s videos but did not rely solely on his surveillance. We went to see for ourselves and, as the detective did, we found Watson leaving the home early in the morning, walking her dog and  her car parked there.

According to the Prince George’s County charter, a council member shall forfeit their office if they cease to be a resident of the district they resided in at the time of election. However, it doesn’t define residency requirements or how many days the council member must spend there.

State tax records list that Watson once owned a home in District 4 with her ex-husband but it was sold. She’s now married to Maryland state Sen. Ron Watson, who according to tax records owns the Upper Marlboro home where News4 saw her outside her district.

In her candidacy filing for the county council, Watson listed a Bowie apartment in District 4 as her address, but the detective said he didn’t see her there, and the I-Team didn’t spot her or her vehicle there, either.

Watson agreed to talk to News4 after the I-Team told her about the investigation. She was adamant that she lives at the Bowie apartment, saying, “I’m there most of the time. A lot of times I spend, with Ron at home, at his home. And then other times at night, I’m at my home. So, we have kind of a dual residence going. I do both. I kind of go back and forth to both, but the majority of my time is in District 4.”  

Watson said everything she owns is in Bowie and that she’s abiding by the law. She said that when she and her husband first married in 2022, they looked for a home together in District 4 but were not able to find one they liked. 

David Williams with the Taxpayers Protection Alliance says no matter what the distance or the reason, if there are rules for where elected officials can live, they should be followed. He said that Watson having an apartment in Bowie is “a way to adhere to the rules, but not really adhere to the rules, is because just having an apartment on paper doesn’t mean you’re part of the community.” 

Prince George’s also has two at-large seats, one of which recently opened after Council member Mel Franklin stepped down before the state prosecutor announced that they charged him with stealing his own campaign funds; but Watson is not running for that seat. The couple did, however, hold a fundraiser for one of the candidates at the house outside her district. News4 cameras rolled as guests arrived last week.

“When you see there are at-large seats, that makes even less of a reason why she should be outside the district, because there are opportunities for her to serve the public in a different way than serving a specific district,” Williams said. “She can run at large and still be a public servant.”

Watson said she has no interest in running for an at-large seat and that she loves District 4 where she’s paid taxes for 20 years. 

When News4 asked Watson if she was following the spirit of the law, she said, “I’m meeting the law. I live, reside in Bowie since 2015 in this particular apartment.”

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One beneficiary is Sasha Bruce Youthwork’s new center in Hyattsville, which opened as part of their B-E-Z (be easy) Drop-In Program. The program offers essential resources to teens in need. 

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Oliver Carter, the program director, emphasized the center’s role as a lifeline for teenagers without family support. 

“We just try to help them,” Carter said. “We don’t try to give them what we think is best for them. We try to meet their needs where they’re at.” 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development presented a $2 million check to Maryland’s Youth Homelessness System Improvement, allocating part of the funds to the Hyattsville Center. 

Matt Heckles, HUD Regional Administrator, stressed the importance of collaboration. 

“This work is just too hard to do if we do it alone,” Heckles said. “It’s impossible to do if we do it alone.”

The drop-in center, which serves youth age 14 to 24, provides food, entertainment and case management but does not offer overnight stays. It also supplies basic necessities such as soap and menstrual products. 

“Sometimes, some soap, some deodorant and some feminine hygiene products can help them get to the next day,” Carter said. 

Donnell Potts, chief of programs at Sasha Bruce Youthwork, said their goal is to assist 250 homeless youth and prevent 50 more from becoming homeless in Prince George’s County. 

The center, located in the 7700 block of Barlowe Road, operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Window mural featured in the video story was created by DC artist Tammy Barnes — Instagram: @tbarnescreates.

Shahid Iman Omar Jr., 24, was among the hundreds of people in attendance Friday at Dr. Henry Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to honor the lives of Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton, Jr., who won a state championship together at Wise.

After the vigil, Omar and a woman were shot outside the high school, Prince George’s County police said. Omar did not survive.

“He had been suffering and crying all week long, and to know that when he put the T-shirt on and walked down that driveway headed to their candlelight vigil and looked at me and said, ‘Pops, I’ll see you later,’ – I had no idea he wouldn’t come back,” said his father, Travis Clarke.

Omar had a 2-year-old daughter and a son on the way.

“On Saturday, we were supposed to be having a baby shower for his unborn son,” Clarke said. “But instead of celebrating a baby shower, we were mourning his death.”

Omar was full of love for his family and his community, working as a counselor helping at-risk youth at a group home, his father said.

“Our Thanksgivings will never be the same,” he said through tears. “Our Christmases will never be the same. Never. Never. Never.”

There’s still no word on a motive or suspect.

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“This is unbearable. Unbearable,” Clarke said. “So, please, somebody that knows something, please say something.”

Police recovered a gun on scene. They’re offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and indictment.

Police have not identified the woman who survived the shooting.

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Several neighbors on Oak Glen Way in District Heights, Maryland, said the called 311 and emailed the county because their trash hadn’t been picked up since June 28.

“And then they give you a call center to call for help, and you call, and there’s no help,” said Harold Scott Jr., who was checking on his parents.

“Kind of disgusting, actually,” said. “Leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”

Neighbors say their complaints were not addressed, and the trash was still there.

“I called at least three times, and the response were a little bit of, a little bit apathetic,” Scott said. “Some of the other neighbors reported to me that they had been flat out insulted.”

News4 contacted the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment. A spokesperson said she would look into the complaints, and about an hour-and-a-half later, a trash truck arrived.

Scott said he was relieved but frustrated by the experience.

“Thankfully, you guys were able to get the ball rolling,” he said.

News4 also received similar complaints about lack of trash pickup in the Lake Arbor community.

“Well, it’s smelly,” resident Abiola Fanimokun. “When the wind blows and you pass by, the stench, it’s in your nose.”

The Department of the Environment sent News4 a statement saying trash collection days had recently changed: “The first week of transitioning to our new waste collection services has been challenging for our employees and contractors for various reasons. We consolidated service routes and had to slide two collection days due to the holiday. In addition, the excessive heat conditions have played a critical role in some of our delayed collections.”

The county disputed claims that pickups had been missed for three weeks. The spokesperson said crews are working to get all trash picked up as quickly as possible and asked for patience.

“Hopefully, they can get on schedule and they can get things going and this doesn’t happen again,” Scott said.

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The man who was shot was a 24-year-old man named Shahid Omar Jr. from Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died. The woman is in stable condition after the shooting tonight at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, police said.

There’s no word on a motive or suspect. No identity of the woman has been shared.

The shooting happened after hundreds of people went to the school for a vigil for 24-year-old Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson and his friends, 23-year-old Isaiah Hazel and 24-year-old Anthony Lytton Jr., who were killed in a car crash several days ago. The three won a state championship playing football at Wise.

The friends were in a Dodge Charger on Route 4 when the driver of an Infiniti tried to change lanes and hit the Charger, police believe.

It’s unclear if Friday’s shooting is related to the vigil.

A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in this case.

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The thefts took place in District Heights between April and June, police said.

“This individual really took a very huge toll on the destruction and chaos it brought to our city and our residents,” District Heights Chief of Police Ronald Tarpley said.

Surveillance cameras helped them zero in on a suspect, 31-year-old Joshua Martell Thomas, who lives near the three crime scenes, police said. Those include his neighbor’s house, the First Baptist Church of District Heights and the Woodland Springs Apartments complex. 

“We were very distressed at what was going on at our property, and Mr. Thomas seemed to be like a one-man wrecking crew for us,” said Neal Nappi of Niven Property Management Company. “He was costing us a tremendous amount of money.”

Some of the AC units Thomas allegedly stole were worth between $25,000 and $100,000, according to charging documents.

Authorities believe Thomas sold copper wire from the AC units.

“We believe that the residents of District Heights and our businesses in District Heights deserve to have him be accountable for his actions,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said.

District Heights police believe Thomas may have had help from others, and they are continuing to investigate.

The grand jury indicted Thomas on 17 criminal charges, including theft and malicious destruction. He’ll likely appear in court next week for a bond hearing.

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But commuters shouldn’t hold their breath. Passengers aren’t expected to be riding the Purple Line until winter 2027 at the earliest.

According to MDOT, the new Purple Line vehicles are the longest of their kind in the United States. Each vehicle is 142 feet long, which is about half the size of a football field. The vehicles can carry 430 passengers with seating for 80. The light rail vehicles feature eight bike racks and can accommodate up to eight wheelchairs.

The entire light rail vehicle is one continuous space, unlike Metro’s current trains, which are composed of multiple separate cars.

The vehicles are electric and designed to reduce noise as they travel through communities, MDOT said.

The Purple Line is without a doubt the region’s most notoriously delayed transportation project, so the light rail vehicle delivery and reveal marks a major step forward.

The Purple Line project is about 65% done, MDOT Secretary Paul Wiedefeld told News4 Thursday. He said he can’t guarantee that the project won’t be delayed again, but says he’s been aggressively working toward completion.

“Today marks a major milestone for the Purple Line and a major step forward for Maryland’s public transit future,” Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said in a press release.

The Purple Line is set to consist of 16 miles of track and 21 stations connecting New Carrollton and Bethesda. It will directly connect to the Metrorail’s Red, Green and Orange Lines at Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and New Carrollton. The Purple Line will also connect to MARC, Amtrak, and local bus services. 

Nine-year-old Westia Russell hopes to someday make the Olympic team in boxing.

“I get to beat people up without getting in trouble,” she said.

Winning was no trouble at all for Westia. She walked away with the medal in Kansas and now has bragging rights at the NoXcuse boxing gym in Prince George’s County, where she trains five nights a week.

“The weight class was 125 and she kept getting hit in the head, so the referee just stopped the fight,” Westia said.

Westia has been beating people up —in the ring — for quite some time. The boxer known as Princess Mama has been lacing up her gloves since she was in kindergarten and is heading into fifth grade in the fall.

Her mom, a former boxer herself, wasn’t surprised this was the sport she picked.

“She told me that’s what she wanted to do,” she said. “She could’ve said she wanted to do anything: cheer, soccer, dance. She chose boxing.”

Her coach at NoXcuse, Lamont Roach Sr., said he knew there was something special about her right away

“She’s a little beast,” he said. “Man, I’m so proud of her. When she first walked in at like five or six-years-old, she had her mother’s spirit on her, and I knew she was going to be a fighter.”

Westia wasn’t the only kid from NoXcuse who won at the Junior Olympics . Fifteen-year-old Asaan Jenkins also won in his weight and age class.

“It felt great,” he said. “All my hard work paid off. It felt great.”

Both hope to make the Olympic team some day.

The Bowie Police Department says the trend is called “jugging,” where instead of robbers stealing money from inside a bank, they steal from customers leaving the bank and withdrawing cash from ATMs.

Bowie Chief Dwayne Preston said his city has seen four such crimes since Wednesday. The robbers are using stolen vehicles and hitting banks across Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties, police said.

Last week, two people died after a police chase that started in Anne Arundel County passed through Prince George’s County ended with a crash in D.C.

Investigators say they believed the car they were chasing was involved in other armed robberies throughout the D.C. region.

Bowie police have not said if the crews committing the armed robberies are connected.

“If you see something that doesn’t look right or needs to be investigated, call us immediately so we can come and investigate it,” Preston said.  “But paying attention to your surroundings is probably the most important thing.”

Prince George’s County police said they also have seen an increase in armed robberies at banks.

Police recommend going to the bank with a friend or relative to help be on the lookout for suspicious activity.

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It was a stark reminder on Monday that the dreams of three young men will never be fulfilled.

Khyree Jackson, 24, was just months from making his NFL debut with the Vikings.

“There’s so much to accomplish; there’s so much to believe on,” said Alec Lewis, who covers the Vikings for The Athletic and wrote about Jackson. “So, I think it just affected a lot of people believing positively in the direction Khyree was going to be headed in.”

Jackson’s friends Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton Jr., 24, also were gifted football players. All three were state champions at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School.

The community is mourning the loss of the young men as the investigation into the cause of the crash early Saturday continues.

Their coach, Steve Rapp, described Jackson, Hazel and Lytton in one word: “legends.”

“Legends. All three of them in their own right. They’ll forever be held high in this program,” he said Monday.

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Maryland State Police are still investigating the circumstances of the crash. They believe speed and alcohol may have been factors but no charges have been filed.

The friends were in a Dodge Charger on Route 4 when the driver of an Infiniti tried to change lanes and hit the Charger, police believe.

The Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement Monday that they’re still gathering information.

“We only have initial reports which do not include the BAC (blood alcohol concentration) which has to be developed from the medical records in this case. We have not yet received those yet. There is a need for more information about what exactly happened to collect sufficient evidence. An early evidentiary review has been scheduled for this week,” a statement from the office said in part.

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Amid many unanswered questions, Coach Rapp said he’s certain of how great an impact his former players had on him.

“If I had one more thing to say, I would just like the opportunity to tell all three of them that I love them,” he said.

Wise High School will hold a candlelight vigil in honor of the three men on Friday at 7 p.m. in Upper Marlboro.

Prince George’s County police officers found 21-year-old Desmond Lowe and a second man suffering from gunshot wounds in an apartment building on Mistletoe Springs Road just after midnight. Lowe, a Germantown resident, died at the shooting scene, police said.

The second man who was shot was treated at a hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Police haven’t released any further information about the circumstances of the shooting, but said detectives were working to identify a suspect or suspects.

The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in the shooting. Anyone who has information can call 301-516-2512 or contact Crime Solvers anonymously at 1-866-411-TIPS.

Hundreds of people attended a memorial service Sunday night to show their family love and support.

“It shows there’s strength in numbers and strength in our faith to keep going,” Saida Wurie, the couple’s daughter, said.

The family says the couple was forced to walk several miles during the pilgrimage even though they had originally paid for transportation.

The couple, among more than 1,000 pilgrims, died in June due to the severe heat, with temperatures soaring over 120 degrees.

Last week, the couple’s three children visited where their parents were buried in Saudi Arabia and picked up their belongings.

“It’s really all the closure that we’re going to get at this point since they were already buried by the time that we got there,” their daughter said. “It was definitely, I guess, a little bit of closure that we can get.”

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Dausy and Wurie worked for Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ U.S. Senate campaign. Wurie was also a member of the county’s African Diaspora Advisory Board.

A family friend said the most important thing is letting the family know they’re not alone.

“It’s our duty now to comfort their three kids that are going through much pain right now,” he said. “It’s very, very tough for them, but we are with them as a family to comfort them.”

Saida Wurie said she is thankful for the outpouring of love and is now focusing on keeping her parents’ legacy of sacrifice and devotion alive.

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“There have been a few foundations that have already been created, so that’s definitely how we’re going to keep their name out there and keep giving back and donating and giving to charity to keep their legacy going,” she said.

While the grief for this family is still real, they said they take comfort in knowing they have the unwavering support of so many people in the Muslim community and beyond.

Ahsan Payton, who lived in Washington, D.C., passed away Saturday night, two days after an annual neighborhood celebration ended in violence, Prince George’s County police said.

Prince George’s County police officers responded to the 4500 block of Akron Street about 7:50 p.m. on July 4 and found three people injured.

Payton was rushed to the hospital with a gunshot wound. A man suffered non-threatening injuries, and a woman was treated on the scene for a graze wound, police said.

“We have one child that was shot in the head and two adults that were shot,” someone said on audio recorded from 911 dispatch.

Police say they are trying to identify a suspect or suspects and why they opened fire. A $25,000 reward is available for information in the case.

Aisha Braveboy, the state attorney for Prince George’s County, said whoever is arrested faces serious consequences.

“We will be charging them once they are identified with the maximum charges and seeking the maximum penalties,” Braveboy said.

Neighbors said that the community celebration has been happening safely for the last five years or so with food, music and a bouncy house for kids. Some told News4 that they never imagined it would turn violent.

“What can you say about it? It’s not right and it should not be tolerated,” a longtime neighbor said.

Another neighbor said they thought the sound of gunshots was fireworks at first.

“It’s sad,” he said. “It’s a sad situation.”

Video shows leftover fireworks and trash on the ground after the shooting.

One of the bullets went through the window of a home and then lodged in the wall. Fortunately, the couple who live there were not harmed.

Now, a community grieves over the loss of a young life.

“We’re very, very sad, very upset and hopefully they will stop having this kind of party because you can’t control it. You just can’t control it,” a neighbor said.

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Anthony “A.J.” Lytton, Isaiah Hazel and Khyree Jackson were together in a maroon Dodge Charger that went off the road during a three-car crash early Saturday morning.

Jackson was a rookie cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings. The three had won a state championship together at Wise.

The trio were family men, and each was an incredible athlete. Before their college and NFL teams sent them across the country, they’d lined up together for Wise High School’s football team, going on to win a state championship together.

The heartbreaking news of their deaths rocked the victims’ families, the Prince George’s County community, the college football world and the NFL.

“He always had high aspirations,” Jackson’s grandfather, Anthony Jackson, told News4.

Khyree Jackson’s entire family was proud of his achievements.

“He was doing the best that he could possibly do,” Anthony Jackson said. “In life and with the family.”

“We’re going to try and get through this as best as we possibly can,” said Anthony Jackson, his voice breaking as he teared up.

The three players were still friends, and still hanging out together when they could, according to their former football coach and teacher from Wise, Dalawn Parrish.

“Isaiah had an infectious, infectious attitude,” Parrish said. “He was extraordinary. Everybody loved being around him.”

“A.J., phenomenal athlete, he could do anything he wanted. Khyree, [his] belief in himself was incredible.”

Prince George’s County Schools released a statement Saturday evening.

“PGCPS mourns the loss of Dr. Henry A. Wise High School alumni Khyree Jackson (Class of 2017), Anthony Lytton, Jr. (AJ) (Class of 2018) and Isaiah Hazel (Class of 2019),” the statement reads. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time.”

Jackson was a rookie cornerback who was just drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft.

Kevin O’Connell, head coach for the Vikings, released a statement in the aftermath of the fatal crash.

“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” the statement reads. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him.”

Jackson was a starting cornerback at the University of Oregon, and played at the University of Alabama and Fort Scott Community College.

Lytton was a cornerback from Upper Marlboro who played for Penn State and Florida State.

Penn State’s football team honored Lytton, saying, “The Penn State football family mourns the loss of former Lion A.J. Lytton. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, high school and all involved.”

Hazel, a defensive back, played four years with the University of Maryland before finishing up his college football career with UNC Charlotte. He was still chasing his dreams of being in the NFL.

UMD’s football team remembered Hazel, saying in part “The Maryland football family mourns the passing of former Terp Isaiah Hazel. Our thoughts and prayers are with Isaiah’s family, loved ones and everybody involved in last night’s traffic accident…”

Maryland’s coach Michael Locksley said his heart is broken, and that Hazel was one of his first recruits after taking over the Terrapins.

In a statement posted to Threads, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he mourns all three souls.

“Maryland is heartbroken over the loss of Khyree Jackson this morning,” the statement reads. “A graduate of Wise High School and an NFL draft pick, Khyree was a true talent who touched so many lives. We mourn him and the two other souls lost in this crash. The First Lady and I are keeping their families in our hearts.”

County Executive and current Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks said she was “devastated” by the accident.

“We are devastated to learn of the tragic passing of Khyree Jackson, Isaiah Hazel, and Anthony Lytton Jr., all proud alumni of Wise High School,” Alsobrooks’s statement reads. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Tributes continue to pour in by the hour, as the different teams impacted by each of the three men process the tragedy.

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The three men were identified as 24-year-old Khyree Jackson, a Minnesota Vikings rookie; 23-year-old Isaiah Hazel and 24-year-old Anthony “A.J.” Lytton Jr. Charges are pending against a 23-year-old driver accused of speeding and crashing into the Dodge Charger carrying the three men, Maryland State Police said.

Jackson, Hazel and Lytton had won a state championship together while playing for Wise. They were still friends, according to Dalawn Parrish, their former coach and teacher at Wise.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he’s mourning the loss.

“Maryland is heartbroken over the loss of [Khyree Jackson] this morning. A graduate of Wise High School and an NFL draft pick, Khyree was a true talent who touched so many lives. We mourn him and the two other souls lost in this crash,” Moore said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The First Lady and I are keeping their families in our hearts.”

Parrish, their former coach and teacher, remembered them as exceptional.

“Isaiah had an infectious, infectious attitude. He was extraordinary. Everybody loved being around him,” he said. “A.J. Phenomenal athlete. You know, he could do anything he wanted.”

Jackson’s belief in himself was incredible, Parrish said.

Jackson was a cornerback for the Vikings after getting drafted into the NFL in the fourth round.

“He always had high aspirations,” Jackson’s grandfather, Anthony Jackson, told News4. He was among friends and family who went to the scene of the horrific crash.

Khyree Jackson’s entire family was proud of his achievements.

“He was doing the best that he could possibly do,” Anthony Jackson said. “In life and with the family.”

Kevin O’Connell, head coach for the Vikings, released a statement in the aftermath of the fatal crash.

“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” the statement reads. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him.”

“In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him,” the statement continued. “I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”

Jackson, a Waldorf native, had previously been a starting cornerback at the University of Oregon and played at the University of Alabama and Fort Scott Community College.

Lytton was a cornerback who played for Penn State and Florida State.

Hazel was a defensive back, playing for four years with the University of Maryland before finishing up his college football career with UNC Charlotte. He was still chasing his dreams of being in the NFL.

The tragedy prompted an outpouring of sympathy from across Maryland and the United States.

Speeding driver hit 2 cars, including Charger carrying victims, police say

Three vehicles were involved in the crash: a silver Infiniti Q50, a silver Chevrolet Impala and a maroon Dodge Charger. All three men killed were inside the Charger.

Investigators believe alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, Maryland State Police said.

According to police, the 23-year-old woman driving the Infiniti was speeding on northbound Route 4 in Prince George’s County, not far from Joint Base Andrews, when she tried to change lanes.

She ran into the two other cars, police said. The Infiniti first hit the Dodge Charger, then the Chevy Impala.

The Charger was sent off the right side of the road, where it struck multiple tree stumps before stopping, police said.

Video from the scene filmed hours later showed the wreckage of the Charger. The back of the car was torn away from the rest of the body of the vehicle, leaving the back seat exposed. Deployed airbags, deflated in the time since they went off, hung out of an open passenger-side door.

Debris littered the ground several feet down the road from the car in the grass off to the side, including half of the back bumper and a complete tire, separated from the rest of the vehicle.

Hazel and Jackson were both declared dead at the scene of the crash by first responders. Lytton was transported to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, where he later died. Hazel had been driving the Charger, police said, while Jackson sat in the front passenger seat and Lytton sat in the back seat.

The driver and two passengers in the Infiniti were uninjured.

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The driver of the Impala, who was the only person inside that car, was also uninjured, and refused medical treatment at the scene, police said.

The woman driving the Infiniti has not yet been charged, as the crash is still under investigation. According to Maryland State Police, charges are pending. Police said they would consult with the Office of the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney.

Northbound lanes of Route 4 were closed north of Dower House Road several hours after the crash on Saturday morning, before reopening at 10:20 a.m.

“We’re going to try and get through this as best as we possibly can,” Anthony Jackson said.

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The shooting occurred at about 7:50 p.m. in the 4500 block of Akron Street in Temple Hills, not far from St. Barnabas Road.

Amid the sound of fireworks, at least two people opened fire as others gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July, Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz said.

The child was taken to a hospital, as was an adult whose injuries aren’t considered life-threatening. A third victim suffered a graze wound.

Police said they can’t confirm whether there was an exchange of gunfire but said at least two people were firing guns in the same direction.

“So, tonight, at a time when the rest of the country is celebrating freedom, the people in this community were here tonight celebrating with each other, having a barbecue, doing exactly what they should be able to do and what they have a right to do in their community, when someone brought a gun to that occasion, and it resulted in a minor child who is very seriously injured tonight,” County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said. “And it’s unacceptable. It’s unconscionable.”  

Police said they do not yet know if the shooters were attending the Fourth of July gathering in the neighborhood. Police say it’s an active investigation.

State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said the shooters will face the maximum charge — attempted murder — and the maximum penalty — life in prison.

Neighbors said the Fourth of July party has been held with food, music and a bounce house for kids for about five years with no problems.

Officials said police should be informed of large gatherings because they can spread on social media and attract people with bad intentions. 

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Diontre Mackall, of D.C., was the man killed, Prince George’s County police said. He was 20 years old.

Officers responded to the 3100 block of Lakehurst Avenue, near the Penn Mar Shopping Center, at about 10:05 p.m. Mackall was found with gunshot wounds inside a home. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

A second man had a gunshot wound that was not considered life-threatening. He was taken to a hospital. A third man was grazed by a bullet and treated on the scene, police said.

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Officers were still investigating at about 5:15 a.m. Wednesday, seven hours after the shooting. No information was immediately released on a suspect or possible motive.

Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact police. A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.

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

Prince George’s County police says they are understaffed by more than 350 officers as of May.

The pilot program would grant Prince George’s County police officers with the opportunity to continue or complete their degree at the institutions.

“It helps everyone if our officers have an opportunity for advancement, to get more education,” Council member Jolene Ivey. “I mean, it’s good for everyone. It helps make them even better people in the community.”

“I want to have that lateral mobility and upward mobility,” said Percel Alston of Prince George’s Community College. “If I provide those things and good stability at the top, good leadership at the top, you can still draw good people. There are great, great candidates right here in Prince George’s County, and we just have to make sure we tap into those resources.”

Last year, the county council passed legislation providing a $2,500 property tax credit for first responders who choose to live in the county.

There is also a $10,000 signing bonus for entry level positions and a $15,000 signing bonus for experienced officers.  

Prince George’s County Fire & EMS’s chief plans to move dozens of firefighters from four stations to other parts of the county to address a critical staffing shortage.

“We have reached out to the county,” Jodie Kulpa-Eddy, resident and former elected official, said. “We were trying to have some discussions with them but there didn’t seem to be any movement on their part.”

She’s not the only one suing. Along with Berwyn Heights, the local governments of College Park and Greenbelt have gone to court to try and stop the plan.

A joint statement from the three municipalities asked the fire chief and county executive to reconsider the changes, voicing concerns about the safety of the residents, businesses and fire/EMS personnel.

“I feel that sometimes, as difficult as it can be, sometimes a lawsuit is what’s necessary to get people’s attention,” Kulpa-Eddy said.

The department is pulling 24 firefighters from Station 835 in Greenbelt, five from Station 839 in Bowie, six from Station 814 Berwyn Heights and 20 from Station 855 in Bunker Hill.

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Chief Tiffany Green says the department needs to move 55 firefighters to address the shortage and worker burnout heading into peak summer vacation season. Safety will not be impacted, she said.

“The 55 personnel that we are redeploying are going into existing vacancies all throughout the county, and that’s the goal, again, to ensure that they’re not called back for mandatory overtime and holdovers, but we are filling the existing vacancies and spreading out our resources throughout the entire county,” Green said.

Green says firefighters are stressed and some are quitting.

“What I saw last year was burnout, fatigue, and mental and physical challenges as a result of these holdovers,” she said.

The Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association is also pushing back. They said this change will lead to longer responses and stations being taken out of service during the day.

“We have this plan that the fire chief put before us and we have to try and work with it even though it’s going to hurt people,” President Lee Lutz said.

The department got approval for 150 new firefighters, but hiring and training them takes time.

Thirty-two firefighters will graduate from training in July. Another 53 began their training in June.

The reallocation plan began June 30 and will be reevaluated in October.

Chief Tiffany Green says the department needs to move 55 firefighters to address the shortage and worker burnout heading into peak summer vacation season. Safety will not be impacted, she said.

“The 55 personnel that we are redeploying are going into existing vacancies all throughout the county, and that’s the goal, again, to ensure that they’re not called back for mandatory overtime and holdovers, but we are filling the existing vacancies and spreading out our resources throughout the entire county,” Green said.

The department is pulling 24 firefighters from Station 835 in Greenbelt, five from Station 839 in Bowie, six from Station 814 Berwyn Heights and 20 from Station 855 in Bunker Hill.

Green says firefighters are stressed and some are quitting.

“What I saw last year was burnout, fatigue, and mental and physical challenges as a result of these holdovers,” she said.

The local governments of Berwyn Heights, College Park and Greenbelt have gone to court to try and stop the plan, saying it will make their communities less safe.

The Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association also is pushing back.

“We have this plan that the fire chief put before us and we have to try and work with it even though it’s going to hurt people,” President Lee Lutz said.

He says the association wasn’t included in the process. They say it will take firefighters longer to get to scenes.

“It’s going to impact response times, because they’re taking firefighters out of stations, and, basically, those stations will probably be out of service during the daytime hours,” Lutz said.

Green says the shortage is part of a nationwide problem. She says the department is paying $30 million yearly in overtime.

The department got approval for 150 new firefighters, but it takes time to hire and train them.

Thirty-two firefighters will graduate from training in July. Another 53 began their training this month.

The reallocation plan begins Sunday and will be reevaluated in October.

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The shooting happened in the busy courtyard of a town house development in the 4700 block of Towne Park Road about 6:40 p.m. The courtyard includes a playground.

Police found the juvenile with a fatal wound and another man suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said more than one person fired shots in the courtyard and at least one gun was found at the scene.

Police ask the public for help finding the suspect.

“We’re in a residential area, so there’s likely people that have doorbell cameras, or, a nice evening like this, there’s probably a lot of witnesses outside, so we’re urging anyone who has information or perhaps video footage to come forward, and you can contact police, or if you want to remain anonymous you can do so through Crime Solvers, pgcrimesolvers.com,” Prince George’s County police Officer Emily Austin said.

Police have not released any information about the man who was killed.

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Julian Everett, who owned a D.C. barbershop, preyed on teens, some of them Howard University students, prosecutors said. He would meet them via social media or at a party and give them a drink that made them lose consciousness. Then, detectives say, Everett would take them to his home in New Carrollton and sexually assault them, sometimes taking pictures and video of the crimes.

One of the victims stood in solidarity with prosecutors as they announced the guilty pleas but declined to speak to reporters.

“Sexual assault cases are tough,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said. “These are some of the toughest cases to prove, and these types of cases also retraumatize victims.”

Everett pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree rape – one of them an Alford plea, meaning he admitted there was enough evidence to convict without admitting he committed the crime.

“Today’s plea, really, resolves what has been years – in fact in some case – decades of trauma,” Braveboy said.

The cases date back to 2005 and involve victims as young as 16 years old.

Detectives have said Everett, who was 35 at the time of his arrest, would pose as someone much younger and use social media sites affiliated with but not officially connected to Howard.

He took at least one victim to his barbershop on U Street in D.C., not far from Howard’s campus, detectives said.

“It’s difficult for these victims to even come forward to report these crimes, much less to see a case through trial, to appear in court to face the person who assaulted them,” Assistant State’s Attorney Jess Garth said.

Everett has been a sexual predator for at least a decade, prosecutors said. They identified four victims but believe there are more.

Everett faces 20-to-25 years in prison when he’s sentenced in January. Everett will have to register as a sex offender and be under sex offender supervision for the rest of his life.

Earlier this month, Everett pleaded guilty to federal charges of kidnapping and production of child pornography. He’ll be sentenced on those charges in October.

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The council unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday setting the special primary election for Aug. 6 and the special general election for Nov. 5. Candidates must file certificates of candidacy by July 5. 

Prosecutors say Franklin embezzled more than $124,000 from his Friends of Mel Franklin campaign account from 2020 through at least October 2023.

According to the charges, Franklin used the money to pay for personal loans, credit card debt, his rent and cosmetic procedures, among other things.

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Franklin served as a council member representing District 9 from 2010 to 2018 and an at-large council member from 2018 through earlier this month.

Police are still trying to determine a motive and identify suspects.

“A little saddened because it was so close to home, and, again, nothing happens here,” said Ron Bell, who lives in the area.

Neighbors said Reid was walking along the street when a car pulled up and someone opened fire, dropping the teen to the ground.

Police said the shooting happened at about 6:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found the victim in the street.

“It makes me think about the younger generation ‘cause, like I said, I’m 23, so you know I’m not too far behind him. This happening to him at this age, he didn’t really get to live his life, “ said neighbor Kobe Vanzego. “It’s sad to the family for real. I mean, my condolences go out to them, my prayers.”

Vanzego said Reid went to Flowers High School and was a few years behind him. He along with other neighbors said they’re still trying to make sense of the loss.

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“He’s a youngin’ trying to do big things and just go forward in life,” Vanzego said.

Investigators are offering a $25,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest and indictment.

Their family says they were among more than 1,000 people who died on the annual five-day pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia as temperatures soared over 120 degrees.

Alhaji Alieu Dausy and Haja Isatu Wurie were the victims.

“She let me know that they had been walking for over two hours to get to Mount Arafat, which is part of the Hajj process,” she said.

They faced another dozen or so miles on the route to Mecca, in punishing heat.

“They weren’t the best of conditions. Transportation should have been provided. They paid for transportation to be provided, however, there was none,” Wurie said.

Her parents would not have turned back.

“Despite everything, they still walked and pushed to what they wanted to do because of their religion,” their daughter said.

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Dausy and Wurie both worked on Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ campaign for U.S. Senate.

Alsobrooks conveyed her condolences to the family and said Wurie’s work made “transformational impacts that were felt both locally and globally.”

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with their families during this difficult time. Their loss is profound, and they will be deeply missed,” she said in a statement.

Wurie served on the county’s African diaspora advisory board.

“During the COVID workforce, she was the first one there. When it came to food drives, she was also the first one there,” said Chukwunonso Vincent Iweanoge, of the advisory board.

Wurie also traveled to the couple’s birthplace, Sierra Leone, to help respond to an Ebola outbreak.

Saudi officials said Sunday that more than 1,300 people died during the Hajj, which Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetimes. Associated Press journalists saw pilgrims faint, collapse and vomit in the heat. Pilgrims who died came from countries including Egypt, Indonesia, India, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Malaysia, the AP reported.

Dausy and Wurie’s children said they will carry on their parents’ legacy.

“We want to continue doing what our parents did, giving our time to charity,” their daughter said.

The siblings said they plan to travel to Saudi Arabia to learn where their parents were buried. For now, they’re mourning their parents’ death as they made the journey they had always dreamed of.

“They had been looking forward to it all their lives,” Wurie said.

Olga Lugo Jiminez, 51, faces criminally negligent manslaughter and other charges following the tragic incident Nov. 20.

According to initial reports, 5-year-old Sky Sosa and 10-year-old Shalom Mbah were in a crosswalk near their school, accompanied by Sky’s father, Franklin Sosa, when they were struck by a van driven by Lugo Jiminez.

The children were rushed to a hospital but later died from their injuries. Franklin Sosa was also hit but sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy expressed her condolences to the families and pledged justice for the victims.

“My heart goes out to the parents of these young souls who were lost in this horrific event,” Braveboy said. “We will hold Ms. Lugo Jiminez accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Lugo Jiminez has been charged with two counts of criminally negligent manslaughter and two counts of causing serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual while operating a motor vehicle. She faces up to three years in prison for each death, based on state law and the statute for criminally negligent manslaughter.

Jiminez was an employee of a school transport company not affiliated with Prince George’s County Public Schools.

The incident led to an abundance of grief in the community. In response, the intersection became a makeshift memorial with flowers, stuffed animals and candles placed near the scene to honor the young lives lost.

“Driving is not a right. It’s a privilege,” Braveboy said.

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Prosecutors say Mel Franklin embezzled more than $124,000 from his Friends of Mel Franklin campaign account from 2020 through at least October 2023.

According to the charges, Franklin used the money to pay for personal loans, credit card debt, his rent and cosmetic procedures, among other things.

For example, on July 10, 2022, Franklin used $305.62 from the Friends of Mel Franklin bank account to stay in a hotel room at the Westin National Harbor, checking in at 2:01 a.m. and checking out of the hotel at 6:21 a.m., charging documents say. The stay was not related to his campaign nor a legitimate expenditure of the Friends of Mel Franklin political committee.

The following March, prosecutors allege, Franklin used $807.74 from the account to purchase a one-night stay in an executive suite at the Gaylord National Resort through Booking.com. 

Franklin had no authority to use the money in the Friends of Mel Franklin bank accounts for his personal use or benefit.

The charges also say Franklin falsified reports to the state board of elections regarding expenditures.

“As chairperson, Franklin had a duty to ensure that campaign finance reports were filed with the state board of elections, under the penalties of perjury,” the charging documents say.

He faces 10 counts of felony theft, embezzlement and perjury.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who is running for U.S. Senate, released a statement saying, “These allegations are disturbing and represent a serious breach of public trust. I have faith in the justice system, and if true, Mr. Franklin should be held accountable for his actions.”

“My heart goes out to this county, because we deserve better,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said.

Braveboy’s office isn’t handling the case because it revolves around campaign finance, so she just found out about the charges Thursday.

“While Mr. Franklin, like every other individual facing charges, have the presumption of innocence, to have these types of charges leveled against one of our elected officials here in Prince George’s County is just very disappointing,” she said.

Franklin served on the Prince George’s County Council since 2010, first for District 9 and at-large since 2018. He had two years left in his term, and a special election will be held to fill his seat.

At-large Councilman Calvin Hawkins said his office is poised to pick up the slack with constituents.

“Oh, I was very shocked, of course,” he said. “I didn’t see that coming; I had no idea.”

News4 reached out to Franklin for comment Thursday and again Friday.

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