Prince George's County police on Friday released the name of a second man involved in a fatal double shooting that killed a 14-year-old Lewisdale boy.
An arrest warrant was issued for John Junior Hernandez, 22, of the 2200 block of Guilford Road in Hyattsville in connection with Wednesday’s shooting — which killed 14-year-old Eliezer Reyes and injured another man, police said. Authorities believe Mr. Hernandez, who is still on then loose, to be the gunman and plan to charge him with first-degree murder.
Another man, 24-year-old Jose Luis Rodriguez-Nunez, was arrested shortly after the drive-by shooting and is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault in the incident. Hyattsville police said shortly after the shooting an officer noticed a van in the area that matched the description of the vehicle used in the shooting and attempted to stop it. Mr. Rodriguez-Nunez bailed out of the driver’s side of the van and was arrested by the officer, Hyattsville police said. The van’s passenger — who officials believe to be Mr. Hernandez — escaped.
Eliezer and the other man who was shot were walking with two people police have identified as documented gang members, fueling speculation that the shooting was gang-related. Police have not disclosed a motive in the shooting.
According to officials with knowledge of the investigation, Mr. Hernandez is also a documented member of the largely Salvadoran gang MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, and Mr. Rodriguez-Nunez told officials that it was Mr. Hernandez who shot out of the van at the group as he drove. It was unclear whether Mr. Rodriguez-Nunez is a documented gang member.
A bond review hearing is scheduled for Mr. Rodriguez-Nunez on Monday.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Andrea Noble is a crime and public safety reporter for The Washington Times. She can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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