'We’re Not Getting Justice': Mother In Death Of Toddler Hit By Stray Bullet

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A 28-year-old man has been acquitted of murder in the shooting death of a toddler in his stroller who was out for a walk with his mom, but was found guilty on three out of 11 total criminal charges.

Two-year-old Jeremy Poou-Carceres of Chillum and his mother were walking in Langley Park last February near the Bedford Station Apartments in the 1400 block of Kanawha Street when they found themselves caught in the crossfire of a shootout.

A detective working in the area heard gunfire and headed toward the sound. He found the mother and child with gunshot wounds and used his police trauma kit to perform life-saving measures on Jeremy until the ambulance arrived, Patch reported previously.

The toddler's mom, Rosa Carceres, was shot in the leg and survived her injury. Jeremy, however, was pronounced dead at Children's National Hospital, according to the Prince George's Police Department.

Witnesses told investigators that Johnny Alejandro Turcios and Israel Fuentes Jr., who has also been charged, argued with some other men over drug distribution territory. The documents say the argument soon turned violent as Turcios and Fuentes shot at the men.

Court documents show that Turcios and three others drove to 1400 block of Kanawha Street in Langley Park in a stolen SUV on Feb. 8, 2024. During the investigation, six people were arrested.

On May 7, a jury heard the state’s case against Turcios. Prosecutors argued that even though Turcios didn’t go to Langley Park intending to kill Jeremy, his intent to kill others still made him responsible for the boy's death, according to NBC Washington.

CSI technicians testified about the physical evidence found at the scene, which included a semi-automatic rifle recovered from the SUV, along with dozens of shell casings found at the scene.

Turcios was convicted Monday of attempted second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and illegal possession of a firearm. The jury had deliberated for five days. Defense attorneys say they plan to appeal the jury's decision.

David Medina, who has been in custody since last March, also testified that Turcios threatened him with a knife to get in the driver’s seat of the stolen SUV, and saw Turcios pull out a handgun and shoot twice outside the window of the SUV, according to WUSA.

Carceres told NBC Washington in an exclusive interview that she was disappointed by the verdict.

“We’ve been fighting for a long time already, with my dad. Trying to get some justice for Jeremy, but I guess we’re not getting justice for Jeremy,” she said.

Even though he was acquitted of murder, prosecutors say Turcios could serve life in prison plus 45 years. The conspiracy charge carries a possible life sentence.

Read more at NBC Washington and WUSA

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