Thursday, August 4, 2011
Friends of Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews held a vigil Saturday.
Friends of the man who was fatally stabbed at University Town Center on June 30 held a vigil for him Saturday evening behind Northwestern High School. They posted pictures from the vigil on a Facebook page created in honor of Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews, who was stabbed when a fight broke out between 25 to 30 people at the restaurant and retail hub in Hyattsville that evening. Prince George's County Police have since arrested a man in connection with the stabbing but Smith-Matthews' friends remain vigilant about keeping his memory alive.
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Monday, August 1, 2011
Documents from the District Court of Maryland show that Mason has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree assault in Smith-Matthews' stabbing death.
Court information about the case of Derrell Emmanuel Mason, 17, of Washington, D.C. indicates that the youth is charged with three counts in the June 30 homicide of Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews. Documents from the District Court of Maryland show that Mason has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree assault in Smith-Matthews' stabbing death. The victim, of Bladensburg, was killed in an alleged fight at Hyattsville's University Town Center. Police arrested Mason late last month and he is being held pending a preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for Aug. 11 at 8:45 a.m., court documents say.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
County police have arrested a Washington, D.C. man in the homicide case of Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews.
The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit has arrested Derrell Emmanuel Mason, 17, of the 3600 block of 13th Street N.W. in Washington, D.C. in connection with the June 30 homicide of Leonard R. Smith-Matthews at University Town Center. Through their investigation, detectives identified Derrell Mason as a suspect in this case and got a warrant for his arrest. Mason was arrested on Monday at his home on a warrant charging first-degree murder. He is being held in the District and is awaiting extradition to Prince George’s County. Four other males were injured during the fight and were treated and released. Witnesses at the scene said that several groups of teens and young people were in the area. According to Sgt. Chris …
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Thursday, July 7, 2011
UTC officials say their restaurant and residence hub, near the corner of Belcrest Road and East West Highway in Hyattsville, is a safe, welcoming place for locals and commuters alike.
The June 30 stabbing death of 21-year-old Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews has raised some concerns about safety at Hyattsville’s University Town Center. But UTC officials say their restaurant and residence hub, near the corner of Belcrest Road and East-West Highway, is a safe, welcoming place for locals and commuters alike. “Notwithstanding what happened last week, we’re reevaluating everything on the security issue,” said M. Scott DeCain, a principal with Bald Eagle Partners, representing UTC. DeCain met with Hyattsville Police Chief Douglas Holland after the stabbing to discuss opportunities to improve security at UTC. “[That is] ultimately the most important issue that we can address,” he said. “If that analysis shows things can be done …
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Wednesday, July 6, 2011
On June 30, Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews, 21, was fatally stabbed at the plaza just outside of David Cron’s home at University Town Center's One Independence Plaza.
When David Cron moved into his condominium at University Town Center just more than three years ago, he expected more out of the location where he and his parents also owned a Three Brothers franchise. “Seeing it decline every day is frustrating, sad, depressing,” Cron said. “[UTC] has not lived up to what it’s supposed to be. It’s not being supported by anyone. On June 30, Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews, 21, was fatally stabbed at the plaza just outside of Cron’s home. Prince George’s County Police, who are investigating the case, have no suspects in custody at this time. “It’s kind of surreal to me,” Cron said. “It’s upsetting and disturbing that happening 100 feet away from my door.” From his work at Three Brothers, Cron said he has seen…
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Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Hyattsville also uses a security program called Safe City to monitor things at some commercial areas around the city, including University Town Center.
A few hours after 21-year-old Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews was fatally stabbed at University Town Center on June 30 city police Sgt. Chris Purvis said his department was hoping that surveillance video from the scene would help them solve the crime. While Prince George’s County Police will investigate the homicide—the Hyattsville Police Department does not have a homicide unit—the HPD will assist the county during the process. Four other people were stabbed during the altercation, Purvis said. Since UTC was built out starting in 2007—the entertainment hub boasts several restaurants, a movie theater and outdoor seating, often with live entertainment—one homicide was reported at the student towers in spring of 2008. The crime was believed …
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County police said they have no suspects in the fatal stabbing of Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews.
Cpl. Mike Rodriguez of the Prince George's County Police Department said Tuesday afternoon that police have no new information about the stabbing death of Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews Thursday night at University Town Center. Smith-Matthews was killed during an alleged brawl at the plaza in front of the Royale 13 theater, near Old Dominion Brewhouse and Hank's Tavern and Eats. Five people were stabbed during the fight, but only Smith-Matthews, 21, of Edmonston was injured fatally. Rumors have spread about various reasons for the brawl, but police cannot confirm any motive as of this time. Patch will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
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Kirsten Jensen
7:35 pm on Sunday, July 31, 2011
With all due respect Sherry, people should not be afraid to discuss complicated issues regardless of the circumstance. Would youths be driven to violence if they lived in a society full of economic and educational promise - possibly not. And unfortunately disentangling this situation to say it has nothing to do with anything other than tragedy is disingenuous to the memory of the fallen victim … more ›