Prince George's Homicides: Three Dead in One Day
Two victims have been identified following a violent 24-hour period in which the police chief addressed the public.
By Nia Foster ·
Prince George's County Police identified two of the three people found dead on Thursday, a day marked by three separate homicides that prompted the police chief to issue a public statement. The department said the killings were not believed to be related or random, even as they noted a year-over-year decline in murder rates.
The first death was recorded at approximately 4:15 a.m. in College Park. Officers responded to the 9900 block of 51st Terrace after reports of a stabbing. They found Jose Edin Hernandez Vasquez, 26, inside a residence with body trauma. Despite medical attempts, Hernandez Vasquez died at the scene.
About an hour later, a second victim was found in the roadway on the 1700 block of Belle Haven Drive. The location is between Martin Luther King Jr. Highway and Sheriff Road. The man had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not yet identified this second victim.
Shortly before 11 a.m., officers discovered the third body at the Langley-Hampshire Neighborhood Park in Hyattsville. The victim was identified as Omar Jonathan Ventura Ajbal, an 18-year-old from Hyattsville. He sustained an apparent gunshot wound.
Police Chief George Nader addressed the public in a Thursday statement. He noted that homicides in the county were down 33% compared to the same period last year and down 55% compared to the same period in 2024. Nader said the reductions reflect progress but emphasized the human cost. "Behind every homicide is a life lost, a family grieving, and a community forever changed," Nader said.
The department is asking the public to call the homicide unit at 301-516-2512 if they have information regarding the three killings.
Source: The Baltimore Banner
