A person of interest is in custody after a tense stretch of three overnight highway shootings in Prince George’s County from late Monday into early Tuesday. Police said no one was killed, though one driver was hit, stayed behind the wheel, and later drove to a hospital for treatment.
Where and when the shootings happened
Investigators said the first shots were reported around 10:35 p.m. Monday on MD Route 5 at Allentown Road in Camp Springs. About 15 minutes later, another round of gunfire was reported on the ramp from northbound Route 5 to the outer loop of I-495.
The third shooting came just before 1:30 a.m. on southbound I-95/I-495 near Ardwick Ardmore Road, where a driver was struck but still managed to get to a hospital. Police had been searching for a red or burgundy Dodge Challenger, and a person of interest tied to that search is now in custody, according to FOX 5 DC.
How investigators handle highway shootings
Maryland State Police rely on specialized units to tackle gun crimes on the roads, including a Highway Gun Crimes team that focuses on gun brandishing incidents, road-rage assaults and shootings involving vehicles. Those cases often require coordination across multiple jurisdictions and detailed technical reconstruction work to map bullet trajectories and vehicle movements, according to the state’s law enforcement manual (Maryland Manual Online).
Police conference and how to report tips
Maryland State Police and Prince George’s County police scheduled a 1 p.m. news conference at the State Police barrack in College Park, where officials said they plan to identify the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the College Park barrack at 301-345-3101, as reported by FOX 5 DC.
What this means for Beltway commuters
The gunfire erupted along some of the region’s busiest stretches of roadway, briefly tangling traffic on parts of the Beltway. Maryland State Police have recently highlighted high-visibility patrols on I-495 and Route 5 as part of ongoing enforcement efforts that, the agency says, are intended to cut down on aggressive and dangerous driving (Maryland State Police).
Officials said more details, including whether charges will be filed, will come at the scheduled briefing. Anyone who believes they saw any of the incidents is urged to contact police.
