LANGLEY PARK, Md. — A toddler was killed and his mother was wounded after police say the two were hit by stray bullets while walking in Langley Park Thursday evening. Less than 24 hours later, police arrested two men in connection to the shooting and said they are on the lookout for two more suspects.
According to the Prince George’s County Police Department, 33-year-old Israel Fuentas, Jr., and 28-year-old Johnny Alejandro Turcios are charged in connection to the murder of 2-year-old Jeremy Poou-Caceres and wounding the boy’s mother.
Now, charging documents are giving more insight into what happened and how police tracked down the suspects.
Surveying a carjacked vehicle
According to charging documents, a Prince George’s County Police officer was conducting surveillance on a gold 2003 Ford Explorer that had been carjacked along Kanawha Street shortly before the shooting.
The officer reportedly watched the Explorer turn into a parking lot and lost sight of the carjacked vehicle. A short time later, he heard the gunfire and then saw two suspects wearing masks driving away in the Ford Explorer.
The shooting
The shooting happened just after 5:30 p.m. in the 1400 block of Kanawha Street.
When the detective went to investigate the gunfire he found 2-year-old Jeremy and the boy’s mother. Both had been shot.
Using a trauma kit, the detective tried to save the 2-year-old’s life until an ambulance arrived. The toddler was later pronounced dead at the hospital. His mother was taken to a D.C. hospital and is expected to survive.
Police say at least two people got out of the carjacked car and began shooting at a group of people. The mother and son were walking in the area and got caught in the crossfire.
Witness interviews
In a press conference the night of the shooting, Prince George’s County Assistant Police Chief Vernon Hale III said they had received numerous calls following the shooting and were working to contact as many people as possible who may have information.
According to charging documents, witnesses provided police with video of the shooting and photo evidence of the suspects which helped detectives narrow down who they were looking for.
Carjacked car found abandoned
Court documents say the gold Ford Explorer was later found abandoned less than a mile away from the shooting. Investigators reported finding a blue latex glove near the vehicle and a fired rifle casing on the front windshield wiper.
Detectives canvased the area after finding the car and were able to obtain a video they say shows four people walking away from the Explorer used in the deadly shooting just eight minutes after 2-year-old Jeremy and his mother were hit.
Accused gunman calls police
Less than two hours after the shooting, police received a phone call to the non-emergency number. It was Israel Fuentas, Jr.
The man, who would later be charged with killing the 2-year-old, was calling police to report that he had been robbed. He said the thief got away with his phone and money, approximately an hour and a half earlier in the area of Merrimac and Keokee Street in Langley Park, approximately 600 meters from where the shooting happened.
The phone call resulted in police visiting Fuentas’s home in Hyattsville. According to charging documents, he told officers he was robbed by four suspects with a rifle and black handgun and identified the Ford Explorer, used in the deadly shooting, as the suspect’s vehicle.
Investigators say they contacted Fuentas’s phone provider and connected him to an apartment in Hyattsville. The investigators went to the apartment and knocked on the door, inside they reportedly found Johnny Alejandro Turcios among the occupants.
Police say Turcios matched the appearance of the suspect in the video of the suspects walking away from the Explorer.
Investigators also reportedly found a blue latex glove matching the one found near the Explorer on the stairs leading to the apartment, charging docs say.
The arrest of Fuentas and Turcios
While Turcios was being interviewed by the Major Crimes Division, investigators contacted Fuentas to be interviewed. Charging documents allege that Fuentas used a blocked phone number when calling the non-emergency line to report his phone had been stolen. Police claim this was an effort to explain why his historic cell phone location data would place him at the scene of the murder and concealed a second cell phone number from police.
“This false report created by Fuentas Jr. is evidence of consciousness of guilt due to his involvement in the murder,” the charging document reads.
While being interviewed, court documents say Fuentas admitted that he was in a conflict with another group of men and stated “I do feel terrible about what happened to that child.”
The investigation continues
Detectives say the investigation is ongoing as they continue to work to identify and arrest more suspects. Officers say they believe two more people were inside the carjacked vehicle.
No suspect information has been released regarding the additional gunman.
Anyone with information on this case who would like to speak to a Homicide Unit detective may call 301-516-2512. Those will tips may also contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device), or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous. Callers are asked to refer to case number 24-0008189.
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing [email protected].
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for “WUSA9” to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.
Source link
