Link Between Parties, Slaying Explored

Police Believe Home Invaders Targeted Victim

Investigators are exploring whether a Bowie man slain during a home invasion robbery last weekend might have been targeted by someone who had attended one of the boisterous parties at his house, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

Tyrone Richardson, 39, was stabbed to death by one of the three masked men who invaded his home in the 12500 block of Marleigh Drive just before 3 a.m. Sunday, the source said. The men held Richardson's wife and four children at gunpoint while they killed him, police and neighbors have said.

The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Police had said previously that Richardson was targeted by the men who robbed his house, but they declined to say who might have targeted him or why.

At a community meeting Tuesday night in the subdivision where Richardson was killed, Lt. Col. Kevin Davis, a deputy chief with the Prince George's County police, said it appeared that Richardson's killers knew him "to some degree."

That seemed to ease the minds of the more than 100 subdivision residents at the meeting. No one asked police questions about the homicide. Instead residents focused their anger on police response times to a half-dozen break-ins in the subdivision this year.

After the meeting, many said they thought the police response to the slaying was adequate and that they still felt safe in the community.

"The meeting was good. I thought it gave us some reassurance that the police is on its case as far as the homicide," said resident Joanne Beasley. "I'm more concerned about the breaking-and-enterings."

Police emphasized that the break-ins and the homicide appear to be unconnected.

Investigators say they have no suspects in the homicide, though commanders released descriptions of the men at the meeting. All three were wearing gloves and masks. Police said one was about 5-foot-10 and weighed nearly 300 pounds. They said another was 6-foot-3, weighed about 220 pounds and had orange and brown dreadlocks. He was carrying a silver handgun.

Police described the third as about 5-foot-4. He carried an assault rifle, they said.

The robbers drove off in Richardson's Mercedes-Benz S430, which another car followed out of the neighborhood, authorities have said. On Monday, police recovered the Mercedes in the District, and they are scouring it for evidence.