Eight Murders Reported in Prince George's in August

Prince George's County Police opened at least eight new murder investigations over the past month. Despite this spate of tragic incidents in August, the county's murder rate appears to be slowing this year. 

The murders, detailed on the Prince George's County Police Department's blog, total 34 for the year. That's a little more than a rate of four murders per month. County police reported 90 murders in 2011, a rate of more than seven per month. 

Of the eight murders in August, police have arrested and charged five suspects in connection with some of the murders. 

August began quietly for the county homicide unit until about mid-month when a succession of murders occurred. Beginning on Aug. 6, police responded to five murders in the span of a week. 

First, in the early morning hours of Aug. 6, county police responded to a scene in Temple Hills where they discovered 18-year-old Anthony Boatwright laying in the street with a gunshot wound. Boatwright was pronounced dead at the scene. Police made a quick arrest, charging 18-year-old Fort Washington resident Darrel Sales for Boatwright's murder. 

The next day, Aug. 7, police responded to Woodlan Boulevard in Upper Marlboro for a report of shots fired. Once on the scene, police discovered East Riverdale area resident Ishmael Boakye suffering from a mortal gunshot wound. Within two days, police identified, arrested and charged 21-year-old Marcus Devon Reid for the murder. 

Then on Aug. 8, police conducting a welfare check discovered 40-year-old Riverdale Park resident Alvaro Aguirre-Herrara shot dead inside his home in the 6200 block of Kenilworth Avenue. Within two days, police had identified, arrested and charged 40-year-old Riverdale Park resident Kobina Edo Abruquah in connection with the murder. Abruguah was a neighbor of Aguirre-Herrara. 

Three days later, on Aug. 11, police found 29-year-old Oliver Gregson Davis suffering from a deadly gunshot wound inside his home on the 700 block of Glacier Avenue in Capitol Heights. Within a day, police had identified, arrested and charged 19-year-old Travis Everett Hoskins for the murder. Police say the two had been arguing when Hoskins got a gun and shot Davis.

The next day, Aug. 12, police were called to the scene of a deadly domestic altercation when 37-year-old Glen Burnie resident Trevor Johnson shot multiple times. Police said that 35-year-old Fort Washington resident James Howard Braddy, Jr. shot Johnson who was the boyfriend of Braddy's ex-girlfriend. Police said that Braddy shot Johnson once in the apartment before dragging Johnon outside to a parking lot. There, Braddy shot Johnson multiple times before fleeing from the scene.Braddy turned himself in to police on Aug. 25.

On Aug. 15, police working in Forestville discovered 23-year-old Deandre Yates suffering from a fatal gunshot wound inside his home. As yet, there has been no arrest in this case. 

On Aug. 22, police responding for a report of a shooting discovered 17-year-old As yet, there has been no arrest in this case. 

Two days later, on Aug. 24, county police opened another investigation into the murder of 32-year-old Maritza Alfaro-Abarca, who had been found stabbed to death in the 5600 bock of Kennedy Street near Riverdale. As yet, there has been no arrest in this case. 

Police have asked anyone with information which could help lead to the arrest of suspects in connection with these unsolved murders to call the county's homicide unit at 301-772-4925. Anonymous tips can be made through the county Crime Solvers tip line at 1-866-411-8477. Tips can also be sent via text message by sending a text to the number 274637 (CRIMES). Texted tips must begin with the word "PGPD" before beginning the body of your message.