PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD – A multi-location shooting spree left several people wounded—at least one critically—before police arrested a suspect following a high-speed chase and carjackings Friday afternoon.
Spree Begins in College Park
The chaos erupted around 2:30 p.m. in College Park when dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a man with a gun.
According to Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader, the suspect then embarked on a frantic 15-minute rampage, attempting multiple carjackings and firing randomly at residents across the northern portion of the county.
Flipped Vehicle and Witness Accounts
The pursuit led to 67th Avenue and Patterson Street in Riverdale, where the suspect’s Chevrolet Impala flipped upside down after sideswiping another vehicle.
Witness David Arias Paz described the moment of impact: “He tried to overpass me. When he hits the front of my car, he flips over. Soon as I get close to the car, I hear a shot go off.”
Witnesses saw the driver crawl out of the overturned sedan armed with a long gun, open fire, and flee the scene on foot.
Off-Duty Officer Leads to Arrest
An unarmed, off-duty Prince George’s County police officer witnessed one of the carjackings and tracked the suspect in his personal vehicle.
The suspect fired shots at the off-duty officer in the 9000 block of Edmonston Road just as U.S. Park Police arrived. The gunman pointed his weapon at the arriving officers, but police believe he had run out of ammunition. He then dropped the weapon and was taken into custody without further gunfire.
Authorities recovered an AR-15-style rifle at the scene.
Local Schools Placed on Lockdown
The shooting spree triggered immediate emergency protocols across the area:
- Greenbelt Middle School and Dora Kennedy French Immersion School sheltered in place, leading to late dismissals.
- The University of Maryland alerted campus staff after shots were fired near Rhode Island Avenue and Lakeland Road.
Current Status and Injuries
Police confirmed that one victim remains in critical condition, while several others suffered injuries. The suspect was also injured during the spree but was not shot by police.
Investigation teams remain active at three major crime scenes, including the Baltimore-Washington Parkway interchange. Commuters should expect significant traffic delays in the northern county area through the evening.
