A College Park man was shot early yesterday morning as he tried to protect his children from gun-wielding burglars who had broken into their home on Indian Lane, apparently to steal a PlayStation 2 and other valuables.
The burglars entered the home through an unlocked window in a bedroom where the children were sleeping, Prince George’s County police said. Fourteen-year-old Alex Mejia was awakened by a man he had never seen before.
“Three people came in the house – in my room,” Mejia said. “I was going to defend myself, but I couldn’t because I saw them pull out a gun, and then they told us to be quiet and shut up. Then me and my little brother yelled for my dad to come and help.”
Police spokesman Cpl. Stephen Pacheco said the boys’ father was awakened when he “heard all the commotion,” and “was trying to push the door open, and the suspect shot at him.”
Mejia added that his father had managed to reach an arm inside the room as the burglar attempted to hold the door shut. The burglar then fired his gun at the door, and the bullet passed through into his father’s arm.
The three men then jumped out the window and fled, with a fourth man waiting outside. They tried to take two PlayStation 2 controllers with them, but the cords became stuck in the window, and Mejia retrieved them later.
Mejia said after the burglars had left, he called 911. His father was treated and released from a local hospital, and the two boys were not hurt.
Although Mejia and his family have lived in the same house for seven years, they had never been concerned about their safety, he said.
“This is supposed to be a peaceful neighborhood,” he said.
Now he said he’s scared and thinks the men are probably still in the area.
Police investigating the crime do not have any leads, Pacheco said, although he noted police sometimes find burglars because they tell other people what they did or the victim sees the burglar somewhere else and recognizes them. Regardless, police are concerned about dangerous people in the area, Pacheco said.
“They had a weapon,” said Pacheco. “Anybody running around toting a weapon and shooting at people is considered dangerous.”
Officials have voiced concern recently about the theft of gaming systems because they can be sold to gaming shops, which have fewer regulations than pawn shops. Pawn shops are required under Maryland law to keep records of people who sell them items.
Junior government and politics major Kevin Rosen, who lives only a few homes away from Mejia, has lived on Indian Lane his whole life and doesn’t remember anything like this happening in the neighborhood before.
“It’s pretty surprising, actually,” Rosen said. “It’s pretty quiet, and we don’t have any disturbances at all.”
Mark Shroder, the president of North College Park Citizens Association, said home invasions have happened in the neighborhood before. “It’s not frequent, but we have had some.”
Shroder said crime is not the main issue he faces in north College Park, but it’s still significant.
“We have asked the city to do what is in their power to improve policing in this area,” Shroder said.
Staff writer Kevin Litten contributed to this report. Contact reporter Will Skowronski at skowronskidbk@gmail.com.
