On a Saturday evening in September, the bright lights of a Capitol Heights 7-Eleven were shattered by the sound of gunfire, forever altering the lives of several families. Inside the convenience store on Ritchie Road, 15-year-old De'Andre Santino Johnson of Washington, D.C., was caught in the violence that erupted on September 3, 2022. The male teenager tragically lost his life in the shooting, which also left three other people wounded.
According to initial police reports, the harrowing
incident unfolded at approximately 8 p.m. when two individuals entered the store and opened fire before quickly fleeing the scene. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, though investigators stated that it did not appear to be a robbery. The violent act left another 15-year-old boy in critical condition, while two adults, one of whom was a store employee, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. One of the adults was treated at a hospital and subsequently released.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Prince George's County Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting death of De'Andre Santino Johnson. Detectives began the process of trying to determine if any of the victims inside the store were specifically targeted by the assailants. As of the initial reports, no suspects had been taken into custody, and the investigation was described as active and ongoing. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the fatal shooting. A reward of up to $25,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.
