In the early morning hours of a June day, the lives of two young men were cut short in a burst of violence that left a community searching for answers. Jose Velasquez-Lemos, a 20-year-old male, and his companion, Hilber Martinez-Velasquez, also 20, were found inside a building on Hamilton Street in the Edmonston area of Hyattsville, Maryland, on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
Both men had suffered from gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene by authorities who responded to reports of the shooting around 8:40 a.m.
The Prince George's County Police Department launched an investigation into the double homicide, with detectives working to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement officials stated they were actively working to identify a suspect or suspects in the case, as well as a motive for the killings.
The loss of the two young men prompted an outpouring of grief, including a GoFundMe campaign organized to help with the considerable expense of sending their bodies back to their families. Despite the ongoing investigation, details regarding any persons of interest, arrests, or the circumstances that led to the tragic deaths of Jose Velasquez-Lemos and Hilber Martinez-Velasquez have not been publicly released by law enforcement. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for their loved ones and the wider Hyattsville community, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence.
