In the quiet community of Landover Hills, Maryland, a dispute on Thanksgiving evening tragically cut short the life of Frederico Cruz Ojeda, a 45-year-old Hispanic male. On November 23, 2023, at approximately 7:15 p.m., the sounds of gunfire shattered the holiday peace in the 7100 block of Webster Street. Prince George's County Police officers arrived at the scene to find Ojeda suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to his injuries, leaving a community in mourning.
The preliminary investigation into the shooting revealed that the fatal encounter stemmed from a dispute between Ojeda and three other individuals. Authorities believe that the victim and the suspects were known to each other, though the specific nature of their dispute has not been publicly detailed. The incident prompted an immediate and intensive investigation by the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit as they worked to piece together the events that led to the deadly confrontation and to identify those responsible for Ojeda's death.
Within days of the shooting, the investigation led to the identification and arrest of three suspects. On November 27, 2023, detectives took into custody 47-year-old Eris Lopez, 20-year-old Omar Valdez Granados, and 20-year-old German Escobar Hernandez, all residents of nearby Lanham, Maryland. Each of the three men has been charged with first-degree murder and other related offenses in connection with the death of Frederico Cruz Ojeda. As the legal process moves forward, the community continues to grapple with the violent loss of one of its members.
