Upper Marlboro man charged in random plaza shooting that killed man

Prince George’s County authorities charged 26-year-old Damonte Marcel Williams of Upper Marlboro after a series of shootings that left one man dead and two others wounded at Watkins Park Plaza. Investigators say the incidents began the morning of January 7 and continued into the evening, ending with Williams taken into custody and ordered jailed pending proceedings.

The fatality has been identified as 65-year-old Joseph Holt III, who was shot at the plaza in the morning. Later that evening, the same semiautomatic rifle investigators say was used in the homicide was fired at occupants of three separate vehicles. Two people were wounded in those later incidents and one person escaped unharmed. Police told the community they do not believe the victims were known to the suspect and described the attacks as apparently random; authorities said motive remains under investigation.

Evidence recovered at multiple scenes included spent cartridges and a damaged phone that police say belonged to Williams. Ring-camera footage reportedly captured the suspect firing at a parked Jeep Cherokee; investigators say Williams attempted to steal that vehicle. A semiautomatic rifle was recovered by officers, and forensic comparison linked spent shell casings from the homicide scene to that weapon, establishing a ballistic connection between the murders and the rifle.

Williams was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior convictions, a status that factored into charges and the decision to hold him in custody. Prosecutors cited the weapon recovery and ballistic matches as key elements in charging the case, and police emphasized that digital and physical evidence - from security cameras to the damaged phone - helped them move quickly from scenes to arrest.

For residents and regulars at shopping centers and strip malls, the case underscores practical safety considerations. Secure vehicles and remove valuables from sight, review any home or business camera footage promptly after suspicious activity, and report attempts to break into vehicles or nearby thefts immediately so investigators can preserve evidence. Ring and dash cameras often provide time-stamped images that criminal investigators can use for rapid leads and ballistic corroboration.

The prosecution and investigators will now work through evidence, witness statements and forensic testing to clarify motive and the full chain of events. Our two cents? Treat sensor and camera footage like key evidence, report anything out of the ordinary, and check that your neighborhood security measures are up to date, it can make the difference between a cold case and a quick arrest.