The Metropolitan Police Department has announced that an arrest has been made in the triple homicide which occurred inside of an apartment building in the 2000 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

On Saturday, March 21, 2009, 44-year-old Joseph Randolph Mays was arrested and charged with three counts of Murder 1 While Armed.

Shortly after 1 pm on Saturday, March 21, 2009, members assigned to the Department’s Fifth District responded to the 2000 block of Maryland Avenue, NE to investigate a call for service. Upon arrival, officers requested the assistance of DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel to provide forced entry into the location. Once inside the location, they discovered four victims suffering from apparent trauma to the body. 

Victim # 1 is identified as 37-year-old Erika Peters, who was pronounced dead on the scene.

Victim #2 whose identity is not being released pending next of kin notification, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Victim # 3 whose identity is not being released pending next of kin notification, was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. The victim was subsequently pronounced dead.

The suspect 44-year-old Joseph Randolph Mays was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was treated and released into the custody of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch.