WASHINGTON — A man who was shot and killed by a Prince George’s County police officer early Monday may be responsible for several fast-food restaurant break-ins in the Clinton, Maryland, area, police said.
In a tweet Monday afternoon, Prince George’s County police identified the man as 24-year-old Anthony Trice Jr. of Clinton.
Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said as police were investigating the fatal shooting early Monday morning at the Checkers fast food restaurant on Woodyard Road, they discovered a Popeyes nearby had also been broken into.
“We believe, strongly, that the individual is responsible for both,” Stawinski told reporters at a news conference Monday morning.
Stawinksi said a Wendy’s in the area was broken into last week but police need to review video captured from the Popeyes and other nearby businesses before they can confirm it was the same suspect.
PGPD Chief says Popeyes next door was also broken into. Last week a Wendy’s in the area was also broken into. Investigating whether these are all connected @WTOP
— Melissa Howell (@Mhowell003) May 14, 2018
“I don’t want to get ahead of the investigation,” Stawinski said. “Preliminarily, it appears that it may be.”
The incident began when police responded to a commercial burglary alarm at Checkers around 3:40 a.m.
The responding officer saw that window to the drive-thru had been broken and requested back up, Stawinski said.
Officers set up a perimeter around the business and called for the suspect to surrender.
Stawinski said police were able to see the man move back and forth inside the store to various exits.
At some point, Stawinski said the suspect opened a side door while armed with a handgun.
“He posed a direct threat to my officer and officers took action to defend themselves,” Stawinski said.
The officer fired one shot, officers then went to administer first aid and the suspect, identified as Trice, was taken to a hospital but later died.
No officers were injured.
Stawinski said police recovered a 9 mm handgun and a screwdriver belonging to the suspect.
They also recovered one spent shell casing from the suspect’s gun.
“That weapon was fired but I am not going to say at what point during this that weapon was fired,” Stawinski said.
Stawinski said almost all of the incident was captured on video, both from nearby businesses and from the on-scene supervisor’s car. Police are still reviewing that video.
Police have not released the name of the officer involved in the shooting.
A map of the area can be seen below.
WTOP’s Melissa Howell contributed to this report.
