Crime & Safety
Man Convicted In Child's Fatal Shooting At Temple Hills July 4 Party
A man who was tracked to South America has been convicted in a child's fatal shooting that happened at a July 4th party in Temple Hills.
TEMPLE HILLS, MD — A guest at a Fourth of July party in Temple Hills has been convicted in the fatal shooting of 6-year-old Ahsan Payton.
On July 4, 2024, 34-year-old Rakeem Gilgeours was attending the neighborhood July 4th celebration. Prince George's Police were called to the 4500 block of Akron Street around 7:50 p.m. on Independence Day. They found Ahsan Payton of Washington, D.C., with a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died late Saturday night, Prince George's Police reported.
A man was injured in the shooting but those injuries weren't considered life-threatening. A woman was treated on the scene for a graze wound, police said.
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According to the Prince George's County Police Department on Aug. 1, 2024, detectives identified Gilgeours as the shooting suspect. He was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Department. Gilgeours was deported back to the U.S. and temporarily detained in Florida before returning to Maryland.
Gilgeours has been convicted of first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and illegal possession of a firearm. He faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison and his sentencing has been scheduled for Oct. 31.
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"This was an extremely difficult and emotional case,” said Interim Prince George's County State's Attorney Tara Jackson in a statement. “The defendant chose to not only bring a gun to a neighborhood event where families and children were present but also made the decision to use it. His actions and the actions of others have left a family and community devastated.
"Our office remains committed to seeking justice in every case and holding people accountable for violent and reckless behavior. Gun violence in our communities will not be tolerated and we will continue to prioritize efforts to prevent it in our communities. We want to recognize our attorneys and law enforcement partners for their tireless work on this case, and our thoughts are with Ahsan’s family and loved ones as they continue to navigate this incredibly difficult time," Jackson added.
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