By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO, mgray@afro.com

A toddler’s birthday party almost turned fatal when shots were fired into an apartment where a group had gathered for the celebration. Meanwhile, the investigation into a thwarted sexual assault continues, while police made an arrested in a College Park assault case.

Shots Ring Out At Toddler’s Birthday Party

Seven people were shot and two others wounded when a child’s birthday party turned violent last weekend.  Prince George’s police said the shooting happened at a two-year-old’s birthday party at an apartment complex on the 6200 block of Maxwell Drive in Camp Springs.

This week’s crime in Prince George’s County include: a toddler’s birthday party that almost turned fatal, a thwarted sexual assault investigation and an arrest in a College Park assault. (Stock Photo)

Prince George’s County police Chief Hank Stawinski said there may have been an argument which led to the gunfire.  There were approximately 12 people at the event when the asaliant started into an unsuspected group of people.

According to police reports, three of the wounded victims were seriously injured, but are expected to survive. The other four victims were taken to a local hospital as a precaution.  All of those injured were reportedly between 18 and 20 years old.

“This has got to end. You’ve got a two-year-old’s birthday party and you have shots ringing out,” said Chief Stawinski at the scene.

Investigation Continues Into Botched Sexual Assault

Prince George’s County Police are investigating the reports of a woman who reported she barely escaped a potential sexual assault in Forestville.

The unidentified woman told officers just before 10:30 p.m. someone she did not know grabbed and dragged her into a wooded area while she was walking near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Walters Lane on August 13.

According to multiple reports the assailant tried to sexually assault her, but she fought back by hitting him several times, which injured him before he relented and fled the scene.  After the victim thwarted the assault effort, she was able to contact police officers who, with the help of their K-9 unit, were able to begin their investigation. The victim was then taken to a local hospital where she was treated and later released.

Detectives who were dispatched to the scene searched the area of Walters Lane and Lacona Street searching for clues other than the description of the suspect that was provided by the victim.  He is described as a Black male between 27 and 35 years old who stands between 5’7” and 5’9” weighing approximately 180 and 200 pounds. The suspect also wears shoulder-length dreadlocks and was dressed in a white shirt, black cargo pants, black shoes and glasses.

Greenbelt Teen Charged In College Park Assault

Vashann Robinson, a teenager from Greenbelt, was arrested in connection with an assault in College Park.  The 18-year-old suspect was apprehended after he was identified from a photo that was released by the Prince George’s County Police in less than a week.

Robinson has been charged with attempted kidnapping and second-degree assault, along with other charges, and is currently being held without bond.  He was reportedly arrested without incident after he was spotted wearing similar clothes to the ones worn by the suspect in the photos.

Authorities believe Robinson approached the unsuspecting victim just before midnight on August 6 in the 4400 block of Guilford Drive near a group of off-campus apartments. The suspect reportedly asked her if she could help him find his lost dog. Initially, the woman said no at but finally decided to help once he later asked again.