LANGLEY PARK, Md. — The Feb. 8 crossfire shooting death of 2-year-old Jeremey Poou-Caceres in Langley Park is raising questions about how Maryland supervises people on parole and probation.
The two suspects in custody for allegedly battling over drug turf with an AK-47 rifle have recently been released from prison.
But neither one was complying with their conditions for release, according to new probation warrants obtained by WUSA9.
Suspects Israel Fuentes Jr. and Johnny Alejandro Turcios are both convicted armed robbers who have served recent prison sentences.
Warrants for violation of probation were not issued until after the two were locked up for Jeremy’s death last week, even though documents indicate authorities were aware before the shooting that the men were not complying with the conditions of their releases and did not take immediate action.
In Turcios’ case, the new warrant reveals he was released from prison in September of 2023 and immediately defaulted on paying court ordered fees for drug testing and other costs.
No immediate action was taken by state authorities responsible for supervising him.
In Fuentes case, he met with probation officials in November but since then failed to prove he’d was doing court ordered drug treatment and also defaulted on fees.
Both men have long criminal records including previous robbery and gun charges.
Turcios was convicted of being the gunman among a group of men who robbed a victim in Langley Park of an iPhone, shoes and a jacket in 2017.
Fuentes' robbery charges date back to 2019.
Both are felons, yet existing gun laws apparently did nothing to prevent them from getting guns again. The sources of the weapons including the AK-47 military rifle used in the shooting that killed Jeremey Poou-Caceres are not revealed in the available documents.
Prince George’s County police continue to look for other unidentified men who may be involved. Investigators believe the suspects they are pursuing are linked to a carjacked Ford Explorer that fled the shooting scene.