Deadly weekend in Prince George's County

Prince George’s County police are investigating three homicides this weekend that occurred during a seven-hour period.

Officer Evan Baxter, police spokesman, says a dead man was discovered Saturday night under the high-tension power lines off University Boulevard in Adelphi.  Police still have not officially said what killed the victim, but police are now investigating this case as a homicide.

Minutes later officers responded to a stabbing/cutting in the 1300 block of Eastwood Drive in the District Heights area around 8 p.m.  When patrol officers arrived, they found Henry Geovanny Sanchez-Alvarenga, 22, inside of a boarding house.  He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.  A police news release says detectives believe this killing was the result of a personal dispute between the victim and an acquaintance.

Around 2:10 a.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to Saint Barnabas Road and Silver Hill Road for a shooting, but later responded to Saint Barnabas Road and Dallas Drive in the Temple Hills area.  Officers found two men suffering from gunshot wounds.  Lorenzo Steven Smith, Jr., 35, of the 3900 Block of Dent Street in Capitol Heights was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.  A second victim, 33, was also shot and taken to the hospital, where he is expected to survive.  A PGPD news release states that "Both victims have extensive criminal backgrounds."

Homicide detectives are working to identify the suspect(s) and to establish a motive in these cases.

Anyone with information about these cases is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (301) 772-4925.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411 TIPS (8477) or text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/police/ and submit a tip online.  The Prince George’s County Police Department is offering a cash reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspect(s).  The investigations are continuing.