PGPD Mourns Loss of Veteran Officer

Sergeant Habershon

The Prince George’s County Police family is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Sergeant Benjamin Habershon #2654. He passed away on November 4, 2025.

Sergeant Habershon was a cherished member of the agency who served for 24 years. He first joined the Prince George’s County Police Department in February of 2001 with Session 95. During his more than two decades with the department, Sergeant Habershon served in multiple assignments to include at Landover - District III, the Forensic Science Division and most recently with the agency’s new Real Time Crime Center. Sergeant Habershon earned multiple awards and citations over the years to include awards of merit and unit citations.

Sergeant Habershon was known for his kindness as well as his amazing sense of humor. He found joy in serving the community and had a passion for volunteering. He especially enjoyed the annual Toys for Tots events.

He leaves behind his two beloved children, a daughter and son, as well as his wife. Please keep his fellow officers, family and all who knew and loved him in your thoughts and prayers.

Missing Child Found

 Update 11/11/25: Abdulawwal has been safely located.

Abdulawwal Ishola

The Prince George’s County Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in finding a missing child. He is identified as 12-year-old Abdulawwal Ishola . Abdulawwal was last seen on November 10, 2025, at approximately 12 pm in the 9000 block of Contee Road in Laurel. 

Abdulawwal is a Black male, 4’11” and 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black winter jacket, tan pants and black flip flops.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Missing Persons Section at 301-772-8970.

PGPD Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Collision

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal pedestrian collision that occurred late Friday night. The deceased pedestrian is 39-year-old Pedro Antonio Joya of no fixed address.

On November 7, 2025, at approximately 10:50 pm, officers responded to the intersection of Annapolis Road and Whitfield Chapel Road in Lanham for a collision involving a pedestrian. Officers located the victim in the roadway suffering from trauma. He died at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed the involved driver struck the pedestrian while traveling westbound on Annapolis Road. The driver remained on the scene and was not injured.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit at 301-731-4422. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device), or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous. Please refer to case number 25-0062414.

If you would prefer to translate this release into another language, please find the translation window on the right side of this webpage. Please select your preferred language from the available list.

PGPD Cold Case Unit Identifies Suspect in 1998 Murder of Sheryl Crandell

    Sheryl Crandell                          Baari Shabazz (2002)

The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Section Cold Case Unit identified the suspect responsible for killing Sheryl Crandell in 1998. Ms. Crandell was found murdered in her office at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly. The suspect is Baari Shabazz. He died in 2019 at the age of 69.
 
On January 13, 1998, a maintenance employee discovered the 50-year-old victim in her Family Health Center office at approximately 8:30 pm. An autopsy determined her cause of death was strangulation. She had also been sexually assaulted. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, no arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of her murder.

PGPD Cold Case Unit detectives sought and obtained court authorization to begin investigative genetic genealogy in connection to this case in December of 2021. FBI Baltimore’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Team initiated investigative genetic genealogy and was able to ultimately identify the suspect in late October of this year. At this time, there is no known connection between the victim and suspect. He did live approximately one mile from the hospital back in 1998. The motive for the murder is unknown.

  

If anyone has information relevant to this investigation and would like to speak to a Homicide Unit detective, they are asked to please call 301-516-2512.
 
Anyone with information may also contact Crime Solvers online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device) or call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous. Please refer to case number 98-013-1118.

If you would prefer to translate this release into another language, please find the translation window on the right side of this webpage. Please select your preferred language from the available list.