6-year-old shot on July 4th in Md. dies, according to police

By Better Today On Jul 8, 2024

TL/DR –

A 6-year-old boy, Ahsan Payton, was shot and killed at an annual Fourth of July celebration in Temple Hills, Maryland. Two adults also suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting, but no arrests have been made so far. The Prince George’s County Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment.

A Fourth of July Shooting in Temple Hills Claims a Young Life

A 6-year-old boy, shot during a Fourth of July celebration in Temple Hills, Md., has died, announced the police on Sunday. The tragic incident happened around 7:40 p.m. at an annual neighborhood celebration on Akron Street. The boy, Ahsan Payton, was rushed to the hospital with critical wounds, but succumbed to his injuries late Saturday night.

Besides Ahsan, two adults sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the shooting. However, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

Witness Recounts the Horrifying Scene

Shanita Geathers, 40, a local resident, described the chaos after the gunfire. She ran towards the danger, looking for her children, only to find a little boy, later identified as Ahsan, lying shot in a driveway. “As I’m trying to gather the kids…you pray that you don’t see people laying on the ground,” Geathers expressed a day after the incident.

Questions Raised on Safety of Annual Neighborhood Celebration

Akron Street’s Independence Day festivities have been a tradition for five years, with games and barbecue. The free party usually draws outsiders as well. However, this is the first instance of such violence at the event.

According to police, at least two individuals fired weapons during the incident. The Prince George’s County Police Department is offering up to $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment.

Aisha Braveboy (D), Prince George’s County State’s Attorney, stated after the shooting, “Any individuals involved in this shooting will face consequences to the fullest extent of the law.”