On the night of April 6, 2017, 51-year-old Jan Cotto was walking near her home on Zelma Avenue in Capitol Heights, Maryland, when her life was tragically cut short. It is believed she was on her way to a Metro station to commute to work at approximately 11:00 p.m. when she was shot. First responders found her outside, suffering from gunshot wounds.
She was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries a short time later.
The investigation into the death of the woman, described by neighbors as a kind and cheerful person, initially sought to identify a suspect and motive, with authorities offering a substantial reward for information. Detectives from the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit canvassed the neighborhood in the days following the shooting, seeking clues that would lead to an arrest. The preliminary theory developed by investigators was that the shooting stemmed from an attempted robbery.
A breakthrough in the case came with the arrest of 30-year-old Christopher Carl Green, who had no fixed address. It was revealed that Green and Cotto were acquaintances. Green was subsequently charged with first and second-degree murder, as well as other related charges. Following his arrest, he was held in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.
