3-Year-Old Killed By Father, Suspect Dies in Gun Battle: Police

A three-year-old girl was reportedly fatally stabbed and shot by her father, who police say had also shot her grandfather and great-grandmother, before he was killed in a gun battle with police on the streets.

The Prince George’s County Police Department is investigating the police-involved shooting in Temple Hills that was preceded by a double domestic-related shooting in Landover. Six officers are on leave after a gun battle with suspect, Frederick Roy Miller, 38, of the 8000 block of Allandale Drive in Landover. Miller died in the fracas; none of the officers were injured.

According to the police department, officers were called to the 4200 block of Farmer Place about 12:55 p.m. Saturday for the report of a shooting. They found a man and a woman suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. They were last reported to be in critical condition.

Officers began pursuing a car driven by Miller, who reportedly showed his handgun and began shooting at police in the intersection of Beech Road and Branch Avenue. Police officers then fired their weapons. Miller fled down Branch Avenue and stopped a short distance away, he and officers exchanged gunfire. During that gun battle, the suspect was fatally shot.

A three-year old girl, believed to be Miller’s daughter, was found inside the car suffering from trauma to the upper body. According to the Chief Medical Examiner’s office, it appears Miller had stabbed and shot his daughter. The child was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Investigators are working to determine the motive of what they called a “domestic tragedy” and why Miller shot his daughter’s caretakers, who are her maternal grandfather and great-grandmother. The girl’s mother was not on the scene of the shooting, and was found unharmed.

The five Prince George’s County officers involved in the gunfire are identified as:

• Patrol Officer Alba De Jesus, assigned to District IV, who has been with the PGPD for two years.
• Corporal Clarence Black, a 12-year veteran assigned to the District IV Special Assignment Team
• Patrol Officer Brett Fairbrother, who’s been with the department for a year and is assigned to District IV
• Corporal Paul Schweinsburg, a seven-year veteran assigned to the Regional Investigation Division
• Patrol Officer Christopher Gehlhausen of District IV, who’s been with the PGPD for three years.

Also, Master Trooper Williard Shelton of the Maryland State Police, a 17-year veteran assigned to the Forestville Barrack, fired his weapon. None of the officers was injured.

All six officers are on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department at 301-856-2660. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com and sumbit a tip online.

PHOTO: A 3-year-old girl was reportedly fatally stabbed and shot by her father, who died later in a gun battle with law enforcement officers on Branch Avenue north of I-495. Credit: Prince George’s County Police Twitter feed