An officer heard gunshots in the area and arrived to find a young woman and her 3-year-old son shot.
LANGLEY PARK, Md. — Officials are demanding change and police are searching for answers after a 3-year-old boy was killed and his mother wounded in a shooting in Hyattsville Thursday evening.
Prince George’s County Assistant Police Chief Vernon Hale III said in a press conference Thursday night that an officer was near the 1400 block of Kanawha Street when they heard gunshots around 5:30 p.m. When the officer responded to the gunfire, they found a mother and her 3-year-old son suffering from gunshot wounds.
The officer tried to help the shooting victims until EMS could arrive. The mother was then taken to a D.C. hospital where she remains in stable condition. Her son was taken to Children’s National Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
“That young baby did nothing to anyone and did not deserve to die because someone wants to come out here and play with guns,” said Hale. “Bullets come down and have consequences. I can only pray they weren’t trying to kill a child.”
Deputy Administrative Assistant for Public Safety Barry L. Stanton, who has a 3-year-old grandson himself, called the shooting a senseless act of violence.
“This violence in this community has to stop, the trauma that families face, that community faces every day over gun violence is totally unacceptable and we’re gonna do something to get the perpetrators,” said Stanton.
Assistant Chief Hale said the police department received numerous calls following the shooting and detectives are working to speak with any witnesses who may have any information.
“Someone knows who did this,” said Hale. “This isn’t about snitching, this is about justice for the victims.”
It is currently unclear how many suspects were involved or what exactly the motive behind the shooting was when it started.
“A child is dead and a mother is shot,” Hall said while asking for help from the community to bring the shooters to justice.
Anyone with information may contact Prince George’s County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or through the “P3 Tips” mobile phone app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download).
WUSA9 Casey Nolen is at the scene working to find out more information. Check back here for more details as they become available.
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