Second Robbery Suspect Shot by Officer Now in Jail

The second of two suspects involved in a confrontation near an Upper Marlboro Giant store that led to a Prince George’s County Police officer shooting both men has been released from the hospital and jailed.

The second suspect is Derrick Simmons, 42, of the 8900 block of Town Center Circle in Upper Marlboro. Simmons is charged with felony theft and handgun-related charges. He is currently in the custody of the Department of Corrections, police say.

The other suspect, Clyde Peterson, 44, of the 14000 block Argos Place in Upper Marlboro, faces felony theft and handgun related charges. Peterson is currently at the Department of Corrections.

Peterson and Simmons were taken to a hospital, where Peterson was treated and released.

The incident happened Tuesday in the parking lot of a Giant grocery store at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Crain Highway, according to PGPDNews on Twitter.

Police believe the two armed suspects, who had gloves in a stolen car, came to the shopping center to rob the SunTrust bank.

The department’s auto theft unit found the stolen Mustang on Crain Highway, with the men inside, leading to the confrontation.

The Baltimore Police Department had alerted Prince George’s officers that the car had been stolen. One detective approached the car that had two armed suspects inside and ordered a suspect not to touch the weapon. Police say the officer feared for his life and for bystanders, so he fired his service weapon, striking both suspects.

Neither police officer was injured.

The officer is who fired his weapon is Police Officer First Class David Gross, a four-year veteran of the Prince George’s County Police Department. Gross had been employed with another area law enforcement agency for 12 years before joining the department. He is currently assigned to the Bureau of Investigation, Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement (WAVE) Team. He is on routine, administrative leave.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at (301)772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com to submit a tip online.

»Photo of robbery suspect Derrick Simmons, courtesy of the Prince George’s County Police Department