Arrests Made in Five Slayings Amid Surge of Violence

Hours later, Charles Leroy Ware, 53, of Temple Hills was shot and killed in a robbery after he had stepped outside, using a walker, to work on his car.

Several detectives began studying the crime scene. The victims in the cemetery were Mario Nathaniel Shepard, 26, of Cheltenham and Kelvin Antonio Franklin, 23, of Upper Marlboro. Shepard's silver Dodge Magnum was nearby, with blood inside and exterior damage, as if it had recently been in an accident, a spokesman said at the time.

The investigation took several turns, but after Detective Kelly Rogers passed out fliers, a key tip came in about a suspect: Darrell Raynard McCarty, 19, of the 5600 block of Regency Park Court in Suitland had been in the car with the victims, police said. McCarty was found in his apartment, hiding in a pile of clothes. He later gave a statement and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, according to police and court records.

Ware's killer, meanwhile, was also coming to light, Dusseau said. Detective F. Ordono determined that Ware had been targeted for a robbery. After studying previous crimes in the area, a suspect emerged: Brandon Christopher Reeves, 20, of the 6100 block of Middleton Lane in Temple Hills. Reeves was charged with first-degree murder and remains a suspect in at least six other robberies and carjackings, Dusseau said.

On Nov. 9, Deangelo Kevin Alston, 19, was found dead in the 4100 block of Apple Orchard Court in Suitland. Two groups of men exchanged gunfire over payment for repairs on a vehicle, Dusseau said.

Through witness accounts and a shotgun found near the scene, Detective Chris Smith was able to identify Damien Von Wheeler, 23 of the 16000 block of Excalibur Road in Bowie as a suspect in Alston's shooting, police said. Wheeler was charged with manslaughter. Alston's brother, Antwon Alston, 21, was arrested for assault.

"We're going to continue to pursue these thugs the way we have over this last couple of weeks," said Maj. Joseph McCann, commander of District 3.