3 Maryland Officers Shot By 2 Gunmen In Ambush Attack

Hyattsville, MD – Three Prince George’s County police officers were ambushed by two gunmen as they were responding to a report of a home invasion on Sunday night, according to police.

The attack occurred in the 1300-block of Capital View Terrace at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 23, WTOP reported.

The officers came under fire shortly after they arrived at the residence, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGCPD) Interim Chief Hector Velez said during a press conference outside Prince George’s Hospital Center on Sunday night.

“Within seconds they came under fire,” Chief Velez told reporters. “They were ambushed.”

A witness told The Washington Post that she saw someone in a black vehicle open fire on a patrol car, shattering the windshield, The Washington Post reported.

One officer was shot in the back and a second officer was shot in the chest, but their ballistic vests helped protect them, Chief Velez said, according to WTOP.

The officer who was shot in the chest also suffered injuries to his leg and arm, WTOP reported.

The third officer suffered a gunshot wound to the foot.

The officers returned fire, but the gunmen were not hit, WBAL reported.

The suspects attempted to flee in the black vehicle, but crashed a short distance away, witnesses told The Washington Post.

Both shooters were later apprehended.

Police said the gunmen are also suspected of being involved in the alleged home invasion, The Washington Post reported.

Their identities have not been released.

All three officers are expected to recover from their wounds, although one officer’s wounds resulted in him having to undergo surgery, Chief Velez said, according to WTOP.

“They’re going to be fine … They are in good spirits. They are concerned about each other. They expressed concern for the person that they were responding to for the call for service,” the chief added, according to WBAL.

He noted that the wounded officers also provided care to one another while they waited for additional units to arrive.

“Because of the self-care they provided to each other, they were able to be transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center, where they are receiving excellent care,” Chief Velez said. “These officers are your officers. These officers are coming to work to protect, defend the residents of Prince George’s County. This evening, these heroes did just that.”

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks agreed that all three of the wounded officers “are nothing short of heroes,” WTOP reported.

“We want to thank all of you for the support you give them and thank them for the job they do every single day,” Alsobrooks said.

She said that she spoke with one of the wounded officers before he was taken into surgery, and he told her that his child had just turned one year old earlier the same say, WUSA reported.

Alsobrooks asked the community to keep the officers, their families, and the PGCPD in their prayers, WBAL reported.