Special Needs Man Gunned Down at Basketball Court

HYATTSVILLE, MD — A special needs resident was fatally shot at a basketball court in Hyattsville Wednesday during an outing by residents from a nearby group home, according to Prince George’s County Police.

The homicide happened in the 6900 block of Greenvale Parkway in Hyattsville. The victim —  a male in his early 20s — was in a verbal “back and forth” — before he was shot about 2 p.m.

A man in a car had trouble communicating with the victim, retrieved a gun and shot the victim, who lived in the group home.

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.

Authorities have not yet released the name of the victim or a description of the vehicle that the shooter fled in.

A person with the shooter was reportedly shocked by what happened and tried to help the victim. 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."

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 866-411-TIPS.

»Photo from Hyattsville shooting, courtesy of Prince George's County Police