Police charge men in Langley Park slayings
Killings occurred in February and August
Prince George's County police arrested and charged two Langley Park men Thursday in connection with two slayings that occurred in Langley Park earlier this year.
Police charged Alvaro Estuardo Hernandez-Lopez, 26, in the Aug. 22 homicide of Byron Estuardo Perez, 24, of the 8100 block of 15th Avenue in Langley Park. Police also charged Hernandez-Lopez and Ruperto Antonio Tobar-Lutin, 32, in the Feb. 27 homicide of Marco Atolio Mendez, whose hometown and age were unavailable.
At 4:56 p.m. Feb. 27, police responded to a report of a body found in a wooded area of the 7100 block of Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro. Officers found Mendez dead from upper body trauma, according to a county police press release.
Further investigation found that Mendez was killed in the 1400 block of Kanawha St. in Langley Park following an argument with Hernandez-Lopez and Tobar-Lutin, according to police.
Detectives did not provide specific information on how Mendez died, said Cpl. Larry Johnson, a county police spokesman.
On Aug. 22, police responded to the 8500 block of 15th Avenue in Langley Park to find Perez, 24, dead from a gunshot wound, the release states. Perez was pronounced dead on the scene, while a second shooting victim found at the scene was treated for injuries at a local hospital, according to the release. Police did not identify the second victim.
Detectives did not provide specific information on the circumstances surrounding the shootings, Johnson said.
Hernandez-Lopez is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and Tobar-Lutin is charged with one count of first-degree murder, the release states. Both were remanded to the Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro on a no-bond status.
E-mail Natalie McGill at nmcgill@gazette.net.