Suspect arrested in fatal Laurel stabbing, police say domestic-related

Witnesses helped Laurel police quickly track down a suspect after a fatal stabbing on Contee Road left a 48-year-old Laurel man dead in a case investigators say was domestic-related.

Police responded around 3:38 p.m. to the 7800 block of Contee Road in Laurel on May 9, 2026, where they found Dwayne Julien of Laurel, Maryland. He was taken to a local trauma center, where he later died, according to police.

The Laurel Police Department identified the suspect as Samai Gayle, 26, of Arlington, Virginia, and said Julien and Gayle knew each other. Police said Gayle fled on foot after the stabbing, but witnesses gave officers key information that helped them locate him nearby soon after. Gayle was arrested, taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, treated and medically cleared.

Police said Gayle faces multiple homicide-related offenses. The case remains an active investigation, but investigators said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Laurel police asked anyone with information to call 301-498-0092. The department’s public information officer is Laura Guenin, who can be reached at 240-278-0758 or lguenin@laurel.md.us.

The killing also puts a spotlight on how domestic-violence cases can escalate before outside intervention arrives. For people facing abuse or fearing violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233, and text START to 88788.

The Contee Road block where the stabbing happened falls within Prince George’s County Police District VI, also known as the Beltsville District, which includes unincorporated Laurel, Beltsville, Calverton and Greenbelt. Prince George’s County says its police department is the fourth largest in Maryland, with 1,786 authorized officers serving more than 968,000 residents and business owners.

County officials also maintain daily crime reporting and open-data resources that can help residents follow patterns in violent crime across Laurel and the surrounding communities. In a county that spans dense suburban neighborhoods and major commuter corridors, the response to this killing now turns on whether warning signs were missed before the violence turned fatal.