Police: Local Man Charged in Double Homicide

Image: Zephren Jamal James (PGCPD)

A Bowie man has been charged with murder in the shooting deaths of two Washington, D.C., men last week in Capitol Heights, the Prince George’s County Police Department announced Monday.

The department’s homicide unit charged Zephren Jamal James, 32, of the 1200 block of Kings Valley Court, with two counts of first and second degree murder and a firearms charge, the police said. He’s in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.

Police detectives are looking into the possibility that a second suspect was involved in the shootings, which occurred Wednesday evening. At about 7:45 p.m., patrol officers were called to the scene in the 6800 block of Central Avenue.

When they arrived, they found the two victims outside an apartment building suffering from gunshot wounds, the police said. Both were from Northeast Washington - 37-year-old Ernest Lott of Clay Street and 43-year-old Garland Johnson of 5th Street. The two were pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the fatal shootings were triggered by an argument between the suspect and the two victims. During that dispute, James was shot in the hand, the police said.

A short time later, he walked into a local hospital for treatment. Once James was released, the police took him into custody.

Anyone with information on Wednesday’s shooting is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimes Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS, text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com and submit a tip online.