Child Critically Injured In July 4 Triple Shooting In Marlow Heights: PGPD

MARLOW HEIGHTS, MD — A boy was critically injured in a shooting that happened the night of July 4, police say. Two other people were injured; the age of the child was not released.

The shooting happened around 7:50 p.m. in the 4500 block of Akron Street, according to Prince George's Police. One adult was taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. Another had a graze wound, police said.

Muffled by the sound of fireworks, at least two people opened fire while others gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July, Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz said.

"Preliminary information says they walked up, and that's what we have right now. Whether they were here or they walked up from somewhere else, we don't know that at this time," Aziz said at a news conference. "From early indication, it appears to be [that there was an exchange of gunfire]. But for certain, gunshots were coming from one direction, for certain. For certain, at least two people were firing in one direction that we know right now.

"Just know, it's a very young child from early indications. Whether that child would be four, five, six, or 10, or somewhere in between, one of our youngest citizens is in critical condition right now due to the recklessness of gunfire - of carrying weapons here and using them - right in a neighborhood on a beautiful day of celebration," Aziz added.

Police said at the news conference they do not yet know if the shooters were attending the Fourth of July gatherings in the Marlow Heights neighborhood. The investigation is ongoing.

"Tonight at a time when the rest of the country is celebrating freedoms, the people in this community are here celebrating with each other, having a barbecue - doing exactly what they should be able to do, what they have a right to do in their community - when someone brought a gun to that occasion, and it resulted in a minor child who is very seriously injured tonight. It is unacceptable. It is unconscionable," Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said during the news conference. "The fact of the matter is all of these occasions - the ones our community has a right to enjoy together, they had the right to enjoy coming together tonight as families - they turned violent when someone brings a gun. We have got to get these guns off the street."