LANGLEY PARK, Md. — A fifth person is in custody in connection to the shooting death of a 2-year-old boy in Langley Park earlier this month.
Editor's Note: The video above aired on Feb. 14, 2024.
The fifth person arrested was identified Monday as Nilson Noel Granados-Trejo, 25, of no fixed address. He was taken into custody without incident on Thursday.
Two-year-old Jeremy Poou-Caceres and his mother were caught in the crossfire of a shooting on Feb. 8. Jeremy's mother was hospitalized with injuries that weren't life-threatening, but Jeremy was killed.
According to charging documents in the case, an officer had been surveilling the suspects' vehicle before the shooting because it had been reported as being carjacked. The vehicle pulled into a parking area and apparently out of sight of the officer. Shortly after that, according to the documents, the officer heard gunshots and responded to the scene where he located Jeremy and his mother.
Jeremy's death sent shockwaves through the Prince George’s County Police Department, and less than 24 hours later, they had two men in custody. Officials said their officers did not go home until they made those arrests.
Those two suspects are 33-year-old Israel Fuentas, Jr., and 28-year-old Johnny Alejandro Turcios.
Later, police put out images of two young men captured on surveillance video and said they were persons-of-interest in the case.
On Feb. 15, police announced the arrests of two boys — a 15-year-old from Takoma Park and a 16-year-old from Hyattsville. The police department said they were going to charge both boys as adults. The boys arrested were not the two seen in the surveillance video. Those two young men were still being sought as persons of interest in the case; police did not label them as suspects.
The teens arrested were in the custody of the Department of Corrections and are facing charges of first- and second-degree murder, and related charges.
Police say their investigation has shown that Fuentes and Turcios were in a group who exchanged gunfire with a second group near where Jeremy and his mother were walking on Feb. 8. The two teens arrested were a part of the second group involved in that shooting, according to police.
Charging documents obtained Monday show that while investigators interviewed Granados-Trejo, they say he stated that he was in the back seat of a vehicle with Fuentas Jr. and Turcios before the shooting. He also told investigators that he saw Fuentas Jr. firing a gun during the altercation that led to Jeremy's death. Afterward, documents show he got back in the vehicle with the others and fled the scene.
Investigators say that Granados-Trejo did not call police at any time to report what happened. He's facing murder charges for Jeremy's death.
Detectives are working to identify and arrest everyone involved in the deadly shooting. A $25,000 reward is available for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspects.
Anyone with information on the identities of the two persons-of-interest or has information on this case who would like to speak to a Homicide Unit detective may call (301) 516-2512.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com. You can remain anonymous and refer to case number 24-0008189.