UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — The man police said is responsible for the death of a 6-year-old boy is awaiting extradition to Maryland.
WUSA9 broke the news Wednesday night Prince George’s County Police confirmed 33-year-old Rakeem Gilgeours of Southeast D.C. for six counts including assault and second-degree murder.
Gilgeours was deported to the U.S. from Guyana where police said he was hiding out with family. He is currently in Miami awaiting extradition to Maryland and may face a judge in Prince George’s as early as next week.
Six-year-old Ahsan Payton was killed during a shoot-out at a Fourth of July celebration. The little boy was one of three people shot during what police described as an exchange of gunfire.
Charging documents show an arrest warrant was issued July 12th. In a news conference Thursday morning, Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz said by the time they identified the suspect he had already fled the country.
“They put together that information with segments from people who cooperate other avenues of investigate techniques to locate this induvial and when you put those pieces together just like a puzzle it led us to this individual was in Guyana,” said Aziz.
Sherrie Waldrup, Chief of the Homicide Unit at State’s Attorney Office, said, "It really was a testament to a system they have perfected and relationship they have perfected internationally."
“We will pursue it vigorously we know there are other individuals out there who also need to be held accountable,” added Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy.
Police are asking for the public's help to find a second shooter.
“You want to get into shootouts and turn our neighborhoods into anything other than peaceful places that we live work and play where our children play, where Ahsan Payton plays and where we entertain?” said Chief Aziz, “then be a man and turn yourself in because you see these guys behind me (the federal partners), they are going to get you. They are coming for you, and they know who you are they're going to find you.”