A 3-year-old boy who went missing after his father allegedly killed the child's mother has been found safe, while the suspect later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
Officers in Washington, D.C., were called to an apartment building on Wednesday, Feb. 11, after reports of gunfire in the 1400 block of W Street NW. When they arrived, they found 34-year-old Rayven Amuan Edwards suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; she was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency efforts.
A girl, described as Edwards' older daughter, was also shot but survived with injuries that officials said were not life-threatening. Another child in the home was not physically hurt, according to People.
Detectives quickly identified 35-year-old Stephon Marquis Jeter, who had a domestic relationship with Edwards and was the father of the missing 3-year-old boy, as the suspect in the shooting. Police said Jeter fled the scene in a vehicle, taking the child with him. An AMBER Alert was issued as authorities warned the public that the child could be in danger and asked for help in locating the pair.
Investigators later tracked Jeter's vehicle into Prince George's County, Maryland, where officers began a pursuit, according to D.C. police. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed, and officers found Jeter inside with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and officials said the 3-year-old was not in the vehicle, ABC3340 reported.
After the crash, authorities continued to search for the child and followed leads into Prince George's County. Hours later, police announced that the boy had been located unharmed at a family member's home. Officials said the child would undergo a medical evaluation, but did not report any injuries.
Police described the case as a domestic violence incident that spread from inside the apartment into a hallway, frightening neighbors who heard screams and gunshots. The homicide remains under investigation, and authorities urged anyone facing domestic abuse to reach out to local support services, as per Fox Baltimore.
