Bowie Man Charged In Fatal Shootings Of 2 Men, Injuring Another Man: Prosecutor

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A 20-year-old Bowie resident has been charged in connection to the October 2022 fatal shootings of Reginald Cooper, Jr., and Davonte Berkley, as well as the non-fatal shooting of a third victim that happened in southeast Washington, D.C.

The indictment charges Amarii Fontanelle with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, one count of assault with the intent to kill while armed, one count of aggravated assault while armed and other firearms-related charges.

On Oct. 17, 2022, Cooper and Berkley, both 19 and residents of Maryland, drove to 1307 Congress St., SE. Fontanelle greeted them with handshakes, then led them into the house where Fontanelle’s associates were waiting in a stairwell. Around two minutes after entering the building, video surveillance footage captured images of muzzle fire coming from Fontanelle.
Seconds after the shooting, Fontanelle ran from the building followed by his associates, according to prosecutors.

Cooper—who sustained eight gunshot wounds to his head, back and torso—was pronounced dead at the scene. Berkley suffered four gunshot wounds to his back, torso, arm and buttocks, and was taken to Medstar Washington Medical Center where he was pronounced dead three hours later. The third victim, a resident of the District who was also at the scene of the shootings, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg that shattered the bone. He underwent surgery at Medstar and was hospitalized for a week, court documents indicated.

Fontanelle was identified using still photos from video surveillance footage. He was arrested on Jan. 12, 2023. His trial has been scheduled for Oct. 7, 2024.