In the early evening of January 30, 2019, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Bladensburg neighborhood, leaving two young men fatally wounded. The victims were identified as 23-year-old Jonathan Contreras and 24-year-old Varney Batener Jr. The incident unfolded around 5:05 p.m. in the 5000 block of 57th Avenue, where officers from both the town and Prince George's County Police Department were dispatched following reports of a shooting.
Upon their arrival, authorities discovered
both Contreras and Batener outside, suffering from serious gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services transported them to a nearby hospital, but their injuries proved to be too severe, and both men succumbed to their wounds a short time later. The initial stages of the investigation were focused on identifying any potential suspects and determining a motive for the deadly confrontation.
After a thorough investigation, detectives concluded that the tragic event was the result of an illegal drug transaction that had gone fatally wrong. The investigation revealed that Contreras and Batener had prearranged to meet at the location. During their encounter inside a vehicle, a heated argument erupted between the two. The dispute escalated rapidly, leading to both men drawing firearms and shooting each other. The police investigation into the double homicide was closed, with the determination that the two deceased individuals were responsible for each other's deaths.
