Washington, D.C. – A 3-year-old boy who was believed to have been taken after a deadly domestic shooting was found safe hours later, authorities confirmed. The child’s father, identified as the suspect in the fatal shooting of the boy’s mother, later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police pursuit in Maryland.
According to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to reports of gunfire at a residence on Wednesday, Feb. 11. When they arrived, they discovered 34-year-old Rayven Amuan Edwards suffering from gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Inside the residence, officers also located Edwards’ 10-year-old daughter, who had been shot but survived with non-life-threatening injuries. The young girl was transported for medical treatment and is expected to recover physically.
Investigators quickly identified 35-year-old Stephon Marquis Jeter as the suspect. Authorities said Jeter shared a 3-year-old son with Edwards, and the child was initially believed to have been taken from the scene.
An urgent search began for the missing toddler. Police later located Jeter’s vehicle in Maryland. The Prince George’s County Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle, leading to a pursuit that ended when the car crashed.
When officers approached the vehicle, they found Jeter inside with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The child was not inside the vehicle at the time of the crash, prompting further concern for his safety.
Authorities issued an AMBER Alert as the search intensified. Shortly afterward, the 3-year-old boy was located at a family member’s home in Prince George’s County. Police confirmed that he was physically unharmed.
Officials have not released details regarding the motive behind the shooting or the events leading up to the incident. During a press briefing, Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll described the situation as a domestic dispute that escalated and “spilled out from the apartment into the hallway.”
A neighbor who heard the disturbance described terrifying moments as the situation unfolded. The resident reported hearing what initially sounded like children screaming, describing the cries as “blood curdling.” The neighbor said a young girl, later identified as the injured daughter, ran into the hallway with blood on her arm and told them her stepfather had shot her mother and believed she was dead.
The tragic incident has left the community shaken as authorities continue their investigation. Police have not indicated whether there were prior reports of domestic disturbances at the residence.
Support resources are available for individuals experiencing domestic violence. Anyone in need of help can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential assistance available 24 hours a day in more than 170 languages.
The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to piece together the full timeline of events surrounding the fatal shooting and subsequent search for the missing child.
