Prince George’s County Police Investigate Fatal Shooting in the City of Seat Pleasant

Prince George’s County Police Homicide Detectives are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Wednesday, December 5th, inside of a store in the 400 block of Eastern Avenue in the City of Seat Pleasant.  At around 2:18 pm, City of Seat Pleasant and Prince George’s County police officers were called to the store for the report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they discovered 49 year-old Joseph Dance of 67^th Avenue in Riverdale suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen inside the business. Fire and EMS personnel transported him to a local hospital where all lifesaving efforts failed and doctors pronounced him dead.

The Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit investigates all fatal shootings within the City of Seat Pleasant.

Preliminarily, PGPD detectives have determined that Dance had shoplifted a couple of items from the store when he was confronted by a store employee. The employee is a licensed Special Police Officer and carries a current permit to carry a handgun. He was in plainclothes with his badge displayed and his weapon was holstered on his hip and was visible. After the employee stopped Dance to investigate, Dance began to repeatedly punch and assault the employee, at which time, for reasons that remain under investigation, the employee discharged his firearm one time striking Dance. The entire incident was captured on store surveillance video. There are numerous witnesses in this case and the investigation is ongoing. The investigation has revealed that Dance was not armed.  The employee has not been charged at this point in the investigation. 

Detectives are working in close consultation with the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office. It has been determined that the case, once completed, will be presented to a Grand Jury for review.

If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS, or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app.