An overnight shooting in the Forestville, Maryland, area marked the 12th homicide in 11 days in Prince George’s County, police said.
Police Chief Hank Stawinski is extending shifts to 12 hours, keeping officers on the job an extra two hours per day to try to prevent more homicides.
“You’re going to see a larger police presence out there,” said Jennifer Donelan, director of media relations for Prince George’s County Police Department.
A number of the cases involved arguments that resulted in violence, Donelan said. Police could not have prevented these incidents if they were standing “right there,” Donelan said.
“We need people to take a breath, decide against picking up that gun and realizing the consequences and the impact that this is going to have on their families and their communities,” Donelan said.
