Man Killed in Shooting on 5200 Block of Marlboro Pike

Prince George’s County police said Victor Rios Rubio, 27, of Capitol Heights, was found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead inside Oriental Express, a carryout on the 5200 block of Marlboro Pike after officers responded at about 4:40 p.m. Police identified Rubio as the man who died and said the scene was a small strip mall carryout long run by a local family.

Police described the case as the subject of a preliminary investigation into the circumstances inside the restaurant. "The preliminary investigation revealed an employee shot the decedent as the decedent was robbing the restaurant and assaulting employees," police said. "No customers were inside the business at the time of the shooting," police added, and investigators reported that "the gun used in the killing was recovered. Police are in touch with the State’s Attorney’s Office as the investigation continues," police said.

That account sits alongside an earlier county summary that said officers had responded in the 5200 block of Marlboro Pike on Feb. 23 around 11:20 a.m. and found an adult male dead from gunshot wounds inside a location; that summary said detectives were investigating suspects and motive and urged tips to Crime Solvers. Authorities have not published a single, consolidated timeline reconciling the different reported response times and scene descriptions.

Conflicting details about the victim also surfaced in other reports. A family member identified as James Downs was quoted as saying his 42-year-old son, David Downs, was found shot at an apartment complex; he said, "Today I am experiencing my saddest moment, I lost my son to someone who thought they could just take his life from him. And I hope they get what they deserve. And I hope they get locked up." He added, "Anyone who has a son who is not connected to their son or who doesn’t have a good relationship with their son, you need to call them and tell them you love them or give them a hug. And if you ever lose them, you will feel sad like I do." Those family statements conflict with the police identification of Victor Rios Rubio and the police time of response, and investigators have not yet publicly reconciled the differences.

Customers in the strip mall described the carryout as a longtime, family-run business in operation for about 20 years. Police said no customers were present during the shooting and that they recovered the firearm used in the incident; they are coordinating with the State’s Attorney’s Office as they determine whether charges will be filed against any employee or other person involved.

The killing on the 5200 block of Marlboro Pike comes amid other recent violent incidents on Marlboro Pike that have strained local emergency and public-safety resources, including a gas-station parking-lot killing in the 7600 block that resulted in a teenager being charged as an adult. Detectives continue to canvas the area for surveillance video and witnesses as they attempt to piece together a definitive timeline.

Detectives asked anyone with information to contact Crime Solvers or submit a tip through the P3 Tips app; investigators said they will release additional details, including any arrest or charging information, once information is verified and cleared for publication.