On Wednesday, Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit detectives opened an investigation into the murder of 34-year-old Benjamin Ampong of Lorton.
Ampong was fatally shot at approximately 1:00 pm on Corning Avenue in Fort Washington. A description of the suspect’s vehicle was immediately broadcast to officers. One of the responding officers observed a car matching that description leaving the area. The officer attempted a traffic stop but the driver refused, and a short pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle crashed in the 4800 block of Wheeler Road and the two occupants jumped out of the car. One suspect, a 16-year-old male from Washington, DC, was arrested nearby. The second suspect was able to flee the scene.
Detectives then worked to identify the second suspect and gathered information suggesting 31-year-old Anthony Shaw of Washington, DC, was that second gunman, to include a link to the owner of the suspect vehicle and an independent eyewitness who selected him in a double-blind photo array. An arrest warrant was obtained, and Shaw was taken into custody in Washington, DC, Thursday morning.
The department announced Shaw’s arrest Thursday afternoon. On Friday, detectives who were continuing to investigate the case collected additional information from Mr. Shaw’s family which led to the discovery of new evidence which proved Mr. Shaw was not near the location of the murder and they also provided additional information that furthers the case. Upon discovering the new evidence, detectives immediately contacted the State’s Attorney’s Office and the charges against him have been dropped. Mr. Shaw has also been released from custody.
The investigation into identifying and arresting the second suspect continues.
If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives at 301-516-2512.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) Please refer to case number 22-0021406.
If you would prefer to translate this release into another language, please find the translation window on the right side of this webpage. Please select your preferred language from the available list.
Ampong was fatally shot at approximately 1:00 pm on Corning Avenue in Fort Washington. A description of the suspect’s vehicle was immediately broadcast to officers. One of the responding officers observed a car matching that description leaving the area. The officer attempted a traffic stop but the driver refused, and a short pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle crashed in the 4800 block of Wheeler Road and the two occupants jumped out of the car. One suspect, a 16-year-old male from Washington, DC, was arrested nearby. The second suspect was able to flee the scene.
Detectives then worked to identify the second suspect and gathered information suggesting 31-year-old Anthony Shaw of Washington, DC, was that second gunman, to include a link to the owner of the suspect vehicle and an independent eyewitness who selected him in a double-blind photo array. An arrest warrant was obtained, and Shaw was taken into custody in Washington, DC, Thursday morning.
The department announced Shaw’s arrest Thursday afternoon. On Friday, detectives who were continuing to investigate the case collected additional information from Mr. Shaw’s family which led to the discovery of new evidence which proved Mr. Shaw was not near the location of the murder and they also provided additional information that furthers the case. Upon discovering the new evidence, detectives immediately contacted the State’s Attorney’s Office and the charges against him have been dropped. Mr. Shaw has also been released from custody.
The investigation into identifying and arresting the second suspect continues.
If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives at 301-516-2512.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) Please refer to case number 22-0021406.
If you would prefer to translate this release into another language, please find the translation window on the right side of this webpage. Please select your preferred language from the available list.