LANHAM, MD- A teenage girl was tragically killed in a shooting incident while returning home from DuVal High School in Lanham on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. near the intersection of Wood Stream Dr. and Palamar Dr., according to local law enforcement.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the young girl was caught in the crossfire as a violent dispute broke out between two groups. While she was walking on Palamar Dr., she was struck by a bullet and later rushed to a nearby hospital. Initially, she was reported to be in critical condition, but she eventually succumbed to her injuries.
The victim was confirmed to be a student at DuVal High School. However, the police have yet to identify a suspect in the shooting. Prince George’s County Police Acting Deputy Chief Zachary O’Lare expressed determination to apprehend the individual responsible for the daylight murder of the teenager.
In the aftermath of the incident, afterschool activities at DuVal High School and the nearby Robert Goddard Middle School were abruptly halted. The schools were also temporarily placed on lockdown. A boys’ soccer match between DuVal and Bowie High School, scheduled for Monday evening, was canceled.
Prince George’s County Public Schools expressed their condolences over the tragic incident on social media. They announced that grief counselors and mental health professionals would be available on campus to support students and staff dealing with the loss.
In a press conference on Monday evening, Prince George’s County Public Schools Superintendent Millard House II announced plans to expedite security enhancements at DuVal High School in response to the incident.
The Uvalde Foundation For Kids, a nonprofit organization established following the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, has offered a $1,000 reward for relevant information leading to the arrest of the suspect. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.