On July 4 at 12:57 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the parking lot of the Bryans Road Shopping Center located in the 3000 block of Marshall Hall Road in Bryans Road for the report of a shooting. The first officer arrived on the scene approximately four minutes after receiving the call. Two male victims were found, each with multiple gunshot wounds. EMS was summonsed and upon arrival attempted first aid without success. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
A citizen provided officers with a description of the vehicle that was used by the shooting suspects to flee the area. The vehicle, described as a blue Pontiac Aztec with two occupants, was last seen northbound on Indian Head Highway toward Prince George’s County.
The Aztec was spotted and pursued into Washington, D.C., where it crashed into a pole. The suspects then fled on foot. They were apprehended a short time later at 18th Street and Alabama Avenue, SE, by Metropolitan Police Department 7th District officers. Two handguns were recovered from inside the vehicle.
The suspects have been identified as Mark Andrew Welcher, 25, of the 2800 block of Langston Place, SE and Donise Wiggins, 21, of the 400 block of Farraget Street, NW. Both suspects were transported to the Violent Crimes Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department where they were interviewed by detectives from MPD and Charles County. Welcher and Wiggins were charged by the Metropolitan Police Department with possession of a weapon without a license and fugitive from justice. Detectives in Charles County have obtained an arrest warrant for Welcher charging him with two counts of first degree murder, two counts of first degree assault, use of a handgun in the commission of a felony and reckless endangerment.
The two victims have been identified as Shaun Averon Johnson, 33, of Indian Head and Delvin Lamont King, 33, also of Indian Head. Detectives determined Welcher became involved in a fight with Mr. Johnson in the parking lot of the shopping center. Mr. King attempted to come to the aid of Mr. Johnson as the fight ensued. Welcher brandished a handgun and fired several shots striking both men in the upper body and head, killing them both.