washingtonpost.com
MARYLAND BRIEFING

Thursday, January 31, 2008

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Man Found Fatally Shot in Temple Hills

A man was found fatally shot in Temple Hills last night by a person who alerted police to the body, police said.

About 8:30 p.m., a patrolling officer was told a man with a gunshot wound was lying in the 4800 block of St. Barnabas Road. He was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead, said Cpl. Arvel Lewis, a Prince George's County police spokesman.

Police have no motive in the shooting, Lewis said.

-- Elissa Silverman

Fire Started by Child With Matches Displaces 19

A child playing with matches caused a fire in a Greenbelt apartment complex last night that displaced 19 people, authorities said.

About 60 firefighters and emergency medical workers responded to the fire in the 9100 block of Springhill Lane, which broke out about 7:30 p.m., said Mark Brady, a Prince George's County fire department spokesman.

Investigators estimated the damage at $100,000. The owners of the apartment complex are putting those affected by the fire in a nearby hotel, Brady said.

-- Elissa Silverman

HOWARD COUNTY

Foul Play Suspected in Woman's Disappearance

A 28-year-old Columbia woman who disappeared last week might have been the victim of foul play, Howard County police said yesterday, and authorities are seeking the public's help.

Elda Vazquez was seen getting into a cab about 10:30 p.m. Jan. 22, in a parking lot outside an Ellicott City restaurant, police said in a statement. Police said detectives think that Vazquez got out of the cab at her home in the 8700 block of Tamar Drive, but her roommates told police she did not come home that night.

-- Raymond McCaffrey

View all comments that have been posted about this article.

© 2008 The Washington Post Company