In the early hours of a December morning, the life of Ronih Murat Pacal, a 40-year-old male, was tragically cut short in Takoma Park, Maryland. On December 5, 2023, at approximately 3:05 a.m., he was shot and killed outside of his apartment building in the 6700 block of New Hampshire Avenue. The incident unfolded when Pacal and his roommate were confronted by two masked individuals in what authorities believe was a robbery attempt.
While his roommate was robbed of his phone and keys, Pacal reportedly resisted and was fatally shot. The suspects fled the scene, leaving behind a stolen car with Virginia tags. When police arrived, they found Pacal outside with a gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ronih Murat Pacal was a native of Turkey and had been in the United States for only two months. He was a husband and the father of two young children, ages 4 and 6. In the U.S., he was a local restaurateur and one of the owners of La Villa Pizzeria in Petworth. At the time of his death, he was just days away from a planned trip to return to his home country. A fundraiser was established to help his family with the expenses of transporting his body back to Turkey for burial.
The Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit is actively investigating the murder of Ronih Murat Pacal. While they have indicated that they are pursuing leads, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. A reward of up to $25,000 has been offered for any information that leads to an arrest and indictment in the case. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to determine a motive and bring those responsible for Pacal's death to justice.
