PGPD PGPD Obtains Arrest Warrant for Suspect in Double Fatal Shooting

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Duan Goddard​

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit obtained an arrest warrant in connection with a double fatal shooting in Fort Washington on Tuesday night. The suspect is currently in custody in Washington, DC, pending extradition to Prince George’s County. He is 27-year-old Duan Goddard of Fort Washington. He’s charged with fatally shooting two teenagers. They are 16-year-old Thomas Smith, Jr. of Washington, DC, and 16-year-old Michael Bassett of Temple Hills.



On May 27, 2025, at approximately 9:35 pm, PGPD officers were in the area of the 5500 block of Haras Place when they heard the sound of gunshots. The officers canvassed the area and located the two victims outside of an apartment building in the 5200 block of Haras Place. Smith was pronounced dead on the scene. Bassett died a short time later at a hospital. A third teenager who was with the victims was also shot at but was not struck.



Responding officers observed an SUV suspected to the be involved in the shooting fleeing the scene and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop. Officers pursued the SUV into Washington, DC, where the suspect was taken into custody.



The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect shot the victims during a potential illegal drug deal. The victims arrived to the scene in a vehicle that had been carjacked on St. Barnabas Road in Oxon Hill on May 23, 2025. Multiple firearms were recovered at the shooting scene on Haras Place.



Goddard is charged with first and second degree murder and related charges.



Anyone with information on this case who would like to speak to a Homicide Unit detective may call 301-516-2512.



Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device) or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous. Please refer to case number 25-0028569.



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Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: https://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at https://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at https://so.md/expungeme.