Published on: Thursday, March 21, 2013

By Jim Davis

Prince George’s County Police Department is investigating the March 12 homicide of a 23-year-old from Capitol Heights. Homicide detectives believe the shooting may have been gang related.

Around 8:30 p.m. last Tuesday, PGPD patrol units responded to the 4900 block of Marlboro Pike in Coral Hills for a reported shooting.

Officers found Erick Amilicar Mendez-Orellana suffering from gunshot wounds He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

“Mendez-Orellana was walking home when he got shot. We believe he had ties to the 18th Street,” PGPD spokesman Lt. William Alexander said.

The 18th Street gang — also known as the M18, Calle 18, Barrio 18, La18, or Mara-18 in Central America — is considered to be the largest transnational criminal gang.

It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of members in Los Angeles alone, police said.

“We are trying to identify at least two suspects that were seen running away from the scene,” Alexander said.

Mendez-Orellana’s death was the 20th homicide of the year in Prince George’s County.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call PGPD Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925.