Listen 2 min

       Share

       Add to your saved stories

       Save

       Three people leaving a funeral in a van were wounded by gunfire Friday near a Maryland cemetery, Prince George’s County police said. They did not provide the ages of the victims but said they are adults.

       Fast, informative and written just for locals. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. ArrowRight

       The two women and one man were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be non-life-threatening, police said.

       The shooting occurred in the Landover area near the 7100 block of Sheriff Road, police said. The area is near National Harmony Memorial Park Cemetery.

       Officers responded to a reported shooting about 2 p.m., Major Chad Schmick said. He said it appeared that a van leaving the cemetery in a funeral procession was shot at. “This is a time when people are already grieving, already sad about losing a loved one," said Schmick, who called the shooting “brazen.”

       Police are gathering evidence to confirm whether the rounds were fired from a handgun or rifle, Schmick said. Police are not certain whether a shooter was on foot in a wooded area near the cemetery or inside a vehicle, Schmick said.

       Advertisement

       When police arrived to help the wounded, the van carrying the people who were shot was “difficult to get inside" while occupants were scrambling to get out, Schmick said. While trying to climb into the van to aid the victims, an officer injured themself. The officer was taken to a hospital for treatment, Schmick said.

       He said he could not confirm how many people were inside the van. “They’re sad, they’re grieving about burying a loved one, and now this happens,” he said. He said police are looking for any home security camera footage or information from the community that will help find the shooter.

       Share

       Loading...