On a summer evening in Suitland, Maryland, the life of 23-year-old Anthony Douglas was tragically cut short. On July 9, 2017, in an alleyway situated in the 4600 block of Silver Hill Road, Douglas and another individual, 22-year-old Courtney Simms of Temple Hills, were shot in what authorities believe was an attempted robbery. The violent encounter unfolded at approximately 7:30 p.m., shattering the evening's calm.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered both men suffering from gunshot wounds. Simms was pronounced dead at the location, while Douglas, a resident of Marlow Heights, was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, he later succumbed to his injuries. Douglas was a Black/African American male.
The Prince George's County Police Department launched an investigation into the double homicide, turning to the public for assistance. Surveillance footage from the area captured three suspects exiting a vehicle and approaching the victims. Following the gunshots, one of the suspects was seen fleeing back to the car. This footage became a critical piece of evidence in the ensuing investigation. A significant reward of up to $25,000 was offered for any information that would lead to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for the deaths of Douglas and Simms, galvanizing community involvement in the pursuit of justice.
The investigation swiftly led to the identification of suspects. On July 26, 2017, authorities arrested 19-year-old Jharrod Armstrong of Northwest Washington and charged him with first and second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shootings. Law enforcement also identified a second suspect, 27-year-old Robert Suesbury, also from Northwest Washington, and issued a warrant for his arrest. Suesbury was apprehended in September of the same year. The police continued to seek a third individual seen in the surveillance video.
