Arrest Made in Group Home Resident's Murder

HYATTSVILLE, MD — A Hyattsville man is in custody on murder charges for Wednesday's fatal shooting of a group home resident on his way to play basketball.

Prince George’s County Police have arrested Roderick Town, 28, of the 5100 block of Flintridge Drive. 

Conrad Cole, 20, of Annapolis Road in Hyattsville died Wednesday afternoon when he was shot in the 6900 block of Greenvale Parkway in Hyattsville.

Authorities say Cole may have been fatally shot because he dropped a basketball and it hit Town’s vehicle, reports say.

Investigators say Town shot Cole after a brief confrontation. The two men did not know each other.

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Town is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and related charges. He's in custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status. 

Police say Cole was walking on 69th Place near Greenvale Parkway toward a basketball court when he was shot by Town, who then sped away from the area.

The victim and his caretakers walked by the shooter’s car, Cole dropped a basketball he was carrying and it may have hit Town’s car, reports WUSA. That might have triggered an argument. Cole had trouble speaking clearly, which may have enraged the shooter, authorities said.

Police Chief Hank Stawinski said the crime is deeply disturbing and the shooter is a "dangerous person" who must be taken off the streets. The community isn’t safe if caregivers can’t take someone for an outing, the police chief said at a press conference Wednesday.

A person with the shooter was reportedly shocked by what happened and tried to help Cole. When that person heard police sirens, he ran away.

Stawinski appealed to the person who was trying to do the right thing to contact police.

“I’m asking you, and if this person has reached out to you and told you this story, reach out to us, you’re not directly accountable for this but you know what happened,” Stawinski said at a press conference. “We’re not going to rest until this person is in custody. This is senseless, this is pointless."

Cole was part of a local go-go band called HEB (High Expectations Band) for about a year, The Washington Postreports.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 301-772-4925.

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.

»Photo of murder suspect Roderick Town of Hyattsville, courtesy of Prince George's County Police