Former Roommate Arrested In Capitol Heights​ Man's Death

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD — A Washington, D.C., man has been arrested in connection to the February death of his roommate, police say.

On Feb. 13, Landover District III officers were called to the 6900 block of Valley Park Road in Capitol Heights for a fight happening between tenants. Police officers found 49-year-old Jamil Offutt of Capitol Heights in the basement unconscious and suffering from trauma. Offutt was taken to a hospital where he died on Feb. 22, according to police.

Detectives launched an investigation into Offutt's death and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner concluded Offutt's death resulted from blunt force trauma and ultimately ruled it a homicide. Detectives arrested 33-year-old Ricardo Cortez O’Neal of Washington, D.C., on July 29, according to the police department.

O’Neal has been charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and additional charges and is in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.

If anyone has information relevant to the investigation and would like to speak to a detective, they can call 301-516-2512, contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto a mobile device) or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).