Twenty-Six-Year-Old New Carrollton Man Found Guilty of Attempted First-Degree Murder 

Amos Reffell was convicted on Thursday, September 28th of attempted murder. 

In June of 2022, he, along with three others, went to the 3400 block of Brinkley Road in Temple Hills and used several firearms, including two AR15 rifles, an AK47-style trifle, and a handgun to kill the victim. The four suspects fired a large number of shots at him, who was struck in the head and feet. Investigators also found that at least five apartment doors at the location were also hit in the hail of bullets. The group fled after the incident.

Once police spotted the vehicle, a pursuit ensued, and the suspects ended up crashing the car and fleeing on foot. 

Reffell was convicted of attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, illegal possession, and reckless endangerment (of the apartment dwellers).

Bowie Man Found Guilty of Killing Security Guard

Desmond Mbah, 26, was found guilty on Tuesday, September 26th of killing a 23-year-old security guard during an armed carjacking.

During the trial, Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Kim maintained that this killing was premeditated by Mbah.  On February 11, 2021, Mbah left his residence at 11660 Severn Road, took a bus and went to an apartment complex in the 5400 block of 54^th Avenue in Riverdale Park. That’s where Al Janabi was working as a security guard and sitting in his vehicle at the time he was killed. Mbah ambushed Al Janabi and shot into the car, hitting Al Janabi twice in the face and killing him. Then, Mbah fled with the victim’s vehicle. When police arrived, they found Al Janabi wounded and laying on the pavement. He was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital.

“This is the right outcome for Mr. Al Janabi and his loved ones,” said State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. “Justice was served. He was simply working and didn’t deserve to be attacked and killed. Today’s verdict sends a message that my prosecutors will fight for victims, this community and justice. I want to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Kim for his commitment to this case.”

Mbah was convicted of first-degree murder, armed carjacking, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, and carrying a handgun on his person in a public place. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19^th.

Man Sentenced to 65 Years in Prison in Gang Related Murder

State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy announced that 23-year-old Mario Clarios-Arias has been sentenced to life suspend all but 65 years in prison for the heinous attack on two teenagers.

He was involved in a gang-related murder that left a 15-year-old boy dead and another boy, who survived, suffering from head trauma and other injuries. The surviving victim was 16 years old. On April 7, 2021, officers responded to New Hampshire Avenue and Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring where they found the surviving victim bloodied and walking in the street. He directed them to the woods where he said his friend was killed. Subsequently, police located the deceased victim in a wooded area of the Northwest Branch Trail.

Clarios-Arias and 4 others participated in the attack. The surviving victim told officers that they identified themselves as members of Mara Salvatrucha, the MS-13 gang. The investigation resulted in the arrest and prosecution of the following individuals: Marlon Stephen Miguel Ramirez, 20, who entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to life suspend all but 50 years; Jiecsin Portillo Cruz, 21, who entered a guilty plea and was sentenced life suspend all but 35 years; William Rivera-Martinez, 20, who entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to life suspend all but 50 years. Edras Araeli Lopez-Lopez, 20, is scheduled for a status hearing on October 11^th.

Clarios-Arias was sentenced on Thursday, September 21^st. He was convicted on August 25^th, of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and first-degree assault.

Judge Orders Teen Charged with Killing Girl Near Duval High School Held Without Bond

A 17-year-old Glenarden teen charged with killing Jayda Medrano-Moore was held without bond on September 18th after a court hearing. 

Medrano-Moore, 16, was walking home from school when officials say she tried to intervene in a dispute between two groups when someone pulled out a gun and shot her. She was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly afterward.

University Park Man Charged with Killing Greenbelt Teacher Has Been Held Without Bond

During a bond review hearing on September 13th, a Prince George’s County Circuit Court judge ordered Harold Landon III, 33, held without bond. He is charged with first-degree murder and related charges for allegedly killing a beloved teacher.  Mariame Toure Sylla, 59, who taught second grade at Dora Kennedy French Immersion School in Greenbelt, disappeared during one of her regular evening walks at a park near her condo in Greenbelt on July 29th.  

Subsequently, investigators initiated a missing person search for her. On August 1^st that search came to an end when Prince George’s County Police confirmed that a woman’s partial remains that were found by a pond near Joint Base Andrews belonged to Sylla. Based on surveillance footage and phone records, police arrested Landon.  

You can check our website (pgsao.org) for details on cases and for press releases.