LANGLEY PARK, MD – A heartbreaking event unfolded in Langley Park, Maryland, when a toddler was fatally shot and his mother severely injured at an apartment complex. The incident, confirmed by the Prince George’s County Police Department, occurred in the evening hours of Thursday at the Bedford Station Apartments.
Assistant Chief Vernon Hale III of the Prince George’s County Police Department shared that officers were drawn to the scene by the sound of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they found a young woman and her 3-year-old son, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
First responders were on the scene promptly, transporting the young boy to the Children’s National Hospital. Tragically, his injuries proved fatal. His mother was taken to a D.C. hospital, where she is currently stable, her injuries not considered life-threatening.
The police department is leaving no stone unturned in their quest to find those responsible for this horrific act. Hale voiced his sorrow over the incident, stating, “The child was an innocent victim… He didn’t deserve to have his life cut short because of someone’s irresponsible handling of firearms. The ripple effects of such actions are far-reaching and tragic. It’s unthinkable that they could have been aiming at a child. Now, we have a child lost and a mother injured! That child won’t have the opportunity to grow up and fulfill his potential.”
Hale called on the community to assist in the investigation, encouraging anyone with information to come forward. “This isn’t about informing on someone, it’s about securing justice for the victims,” he said.
The department is offering a reward up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.