Crime & Safety

Suspect in Police Shooting Shot at Family in 2006

Stephon Prather, the suspect in a police shooting in North Laurel, shot at a family, including three children, in Prince George's County in 2006.


The man accused of shooting a police officer in North Laurel on Wednesday previously served time for firing a gun at a family as they left their Prince George's County home in June of 2006, according to court records.

Stephon Prather, 29, of no fixed address, was arrested Thursday morning in connection with the Howard County shooting, in which Officer Steven Houk was seriously injured.

In 2006, Prather was arrested and later pleaded guilty to two first-degree assault charges after he fired shots at two adults and two children as they left their Prince George's County residence in a vehicle, according to court records.

Police reported at the time of the shooting, on June 14, 2006, that Prather had argued with the victims earlier in the day, then as the family left their house in a car, they spotted Prather running towards them. Fearing for their lives, they exited the car and ran towards their residence, at which point two shots were fired at them, according to the report in court documents. Two other adults witnessed the shooting from the porch of the house, according to the documents.

No one was injured in the shooting that took place in the 1900 block of Allendale Court in Landover.

Prather was 22 at the time of the shooting. He was initially charged with 29 total counts, including attempted murder, but took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to the two assault charges. A Prince George's County Circuit Court judge sentenced Prather in March of 2007 to one year and 158 days for his role in the shooting.

When Prather's case came up for review in December of 2007, the family members who were shot at wrote a joint letter to the judge saying they felt he was a danger to the community.

"There were three children under the age of 10 that could have been seriously hurt or became [sic] a fatality by the actions of Mr. Prather. On what grounds should he be released?" wrote the victims in the letter.

In court documents, Prather defended himself in a letter to the judge in an attempt to have his sentence reduced. He wrote that he is a caretaker for his mother who had suffered two strokes, adding, "I'm young and I made a mistake."

Prather is currently at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after suffering a gunshot to his leg during the exchange of gunfire with police on Wednesday.

Howard County Police said Prather is charged in a warrant with attempted murder of a police officer, among other charges. He will be formally served with the warrant upon his release form the hospital, according to police.



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