On the evening of October 10, 2024, a shopping trip turned fatal for 24-year-old Dominique Hodge, a resident of Washington, D.C. The young man was inside a Foot Locker store in the 3700 block of Branch Avenue in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, near Temple Hills, when he was shot multiple times. The incident occurred at approximately 5:50 p.m., creating a chaotic scene within the establishment that was occupied by other customers and employees. Despite the gunfire, no one else was physically harmed. Hodge was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the identification of three suspects. Responding officers from the Prince George's County Police Department observed three men matching the suspects' descriptions about half a mile from the crime scene. When approached, the individuals fled on foot. An officer successfully apprehended 19-year-old Andres Rodriguez-Corona of Waldorf, who was found to be in possession of a handgun.
Later that night, around 11:25 p.m., investigators located and arrested a second suspect, 22-year-old Carl Sanders of Washington, D.C., during a traffic stop in Temple Hills. Two unserialized firearms, often referred to as 'ghost guns,' were recovered from the vehicle.
Authorities have indicated that Dominique Hodge was intentionally targeted by his assailants, although a specific motive for the shooting remains under investigation. Following the arrests, Andres Rodriguez-Corona was charged with first and second-degree murder, along with related charges. Carl Sanders faces multiple firearms offenses. Both men were taken into the custody of the Department of Corrections. The Prince George's County Police Department has also announced that they are actively searching for a third suspect and have released a photo to the public in an effort to identify and locate him. The investigation is ongoing as detectives continue to piece together the events that led to the deadly encounter.
