Edwin Morales
A 20-year-old Washington man has been charged in connection with last week’s shooting on Route 1.
Edwin Morales of Southeast Washington was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and related charges for his alleged involvement in a Feb. 24 shooting, according to the Prince George’s County Police blog. He was arrested in the 3000 block of 14th Street in Northwest Washington on Friday.
At about 4 a.m. on Feb. 24, county police responded to a shooting in the 9100 block of Route 1 that allegedly stemmed from a fight in a hotel parking lot. During the fight, which involved two groups who attended separate parties in the hotel, Morales allegedly shot David Esequel Avelar, a 20-year-old Hillcrest Heights man. Avelar was transported in critical condition to a local hospital, where he later died.
Police determined in their investigation the shooting was gang-related, according to the blog.
Morales had a warrant out for charges he faced in Dec. 2011 for theft of less than $100 and providing a false statement to a police officer, according to court documents.
If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of life in prison for first-degree murder and 30 years for second-degree murder.
He is currently in custody and waiting to be extradited to Prince George’s County, the blog states.
