Man charged with second-degree murder of 14-year-old

A Hyattsville man is being charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing of a 14-year-old boy in what police believe was a gang-related drive-by shooting.

The driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Jose Luis Rodriguez-Nunez, is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault in Wednesday’s fatal shooting of Eliezer Benjamin Reyes and the non-fatal shooting of another man, according to police and prosecutors. Prince George's County police are still looking for a second man — the suspected shooter — who eluded police shortly after the shooting by bailing out of the van after an officer tried to stop the vehicle, officials said.

“No other people have been brought into custody,” county police spokesman Lt. Bill Alexander said.

Eliezer was walking with three other people in the 2200 block of Sheridan Street in Lewisdale when a van drove past and someone fired shots from the passenger side window of the vehicle, police officials said. Another man was shot in the arm but survived. The two other people among the group who were not hit by gunfire are documented gang members, Lt. Alexander said. Police did not say what gang the people were a part of nor did they say whether Mr. Rodriguez-Nunez is a documented gang member.

Mr. Rodriguez-Nunez, of the 5800 block of 30th Avenue, is expected to have a bond hearing Friday afternoon in Prince George’s County District Court, said Nancy Lineman, spokeswoman for the county’s state’s attorney. A phone number could not be located for his home.

Extra police resources are expected to be deployed to the Lewisdale area through at least the weekend to stave off any possible retaliatory violence.

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