UPDATE Aug. 19, 2014
TEMPLE HILLS, Md. (WJLA) – Prince George’s County Police said Monday that a Landover man took a selfie photo with his 3-year-old daughter moments before killing her and engaging in exchanges of gunfire with police that led to his own death.
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Dad took selfie before killing daughter
State’s Attorney news conference
Police said there is no doubt in their minds that 38-year-old Frederick Roy Miller of Landover stabbed and shot the girl, Laila, in his car. Miller would die in the vehicle, too, a short time later in a shootout with officers.
Police began pursuing Miller on Saturday after responding to the scene of a shooting in Camp Springs where the girl’s caretakers, her maternal grandfather and great-grandmother, were critically wounded.
During the chase, Miller shot at officers on two occasions before being killed in Temple Hills. The 3-year-old was found dead in his car afterwards by officers.
An autopsy confirmed Laila’s cause of death – her throat had been slit and she suffered a bullet to the head from a gun that was fired at very close range. Investigators said they also recovered a bloody knife from the car.
Prince George’s County Police Chief Mark Magaw, speaking at a news conference Monday, called the girl’s death heart-wrenching.
At another news conference earlier in the day, county State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks joined community leaders in calling for an end to family violence. They noted that 13 of the county’s 33 homicides so far this year were domestic in nature.
TEMPLE HILLS, MD. — The Prince George’s County Police Department is investigating a police-involved shooting in Temple Hills that was preceded by a double domestic-related shooting. The Special Investigation Response Team (SIRT) is leading the investigation.
On August 16, 2014, at approximately 12:55 pm, patrol officers were called to the 4200 block of Farmer Place for the report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they discovered a man and a woman suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. They were last reported to be in critical condition.
The investigation reveals while officers were still responding to the scene of the shooting, they saw and then began pursuing a car driven by the suspect, Frederick Roy Miller, 38, of the 8000 block of Allandale Drive in Landover.
When the suspect reached the intersection of Beech Road and Branch Avenue, his car lost a wheel and he stopped. Preliminarily, investigators believe at that point Miller brandished his handgun and/or began firing. Police officers then discharged their duty weapons. Miller then continued fleeing down Branch Avenue and stopped a short distance away, where the suspect and officers exchanged gun fire. During that exchange, the suspect was fatally struck.
A three-year old girl, believed to be Miller’s daughter, was found inside the car suffering from trauma to the upper body. Based on the initial reports from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, it appears Miller had stabbed and shot his daughter. The child was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
The six involved officers are identified as Patrol Officer Alba De Jesus, assigned to District IV. He’s been with the PGPD for two years. Corporal Clarence Black, a 12-year veteran assigned to the District IV Special Assignment Team, Patrol Officer Brett Fairbrother, who’s been with the department for a year and currently assigned to District IV, Corporal Paul Schweinsburg, a seven-year veteran assigned to the Regional Investigation Division and Patrol Officer Christopher Gehlhausen of District IV, who’s been with the PGPD for three years. All are Prince George’s County Police Officers. Master Trooper Williard Shelton of the Maryland State Police is a 17-year veteran assigned to the Forestville Barrack. None of the officers was injured. All are on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Investigators are working to determine the motive of this domestic tragedy and why the suspect shot his daughter’s caretakers who are her maternal grandfather and great grandmother. The girl’s mother was not on the scene of the shooting, and was found unharmed.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Special Investigative Response Team at 301-856-2660. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com and sumbit a tip online.
A three-year old girl, believed to be Miller's daughter, was found inside the car suffering from trauma to the upper body. Based on the initial reports from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, it appears Miller had stabbed and shot his daughter. The child was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
