Community Corner

Man Accused of Shooting Wife, Stepdaughter to Death in West Laurel; Son Flees to Safety

The suspect, 59-year-old Ronnie Lee Rainey, was taken into custody after briefly barricading himself in his home.

WEST LAUREL, MD -- Authorities say two women were killed in a West Laurel home Monday morning while two others—including the apparent shooter's teenaged son—survived by fleeing a hail of gunfire.

Ronnie Lee Rainey, 59, has been charged with of two counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was taken into custody Monday morning by Prince George's County police.

Investigators believe Rainey fatally shot Lisa Renee Rainey, 50—his wife—and Ariale Chantre Shelton, 27—his stepdaughter—at the home they shared in 16100 block of Malcolm Drive in West Laurel. Both were reportedly found dead at that address.

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Authorities first became aware of the shootings around 10 a.m. when Rainey placed a call to 911, according to PGPD spokeswoman Julie Parker.

He claimed that he had killed his family and threatened to kill himself as well, Parker said. Rainey also warned that he was armed.

Find out what's happening in Laurelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police were dispatched to Rainey's home, where he was said to have barricaded himself. Negotiators quickly coaxed him out, unarmed, before 11 a.m.

When investigators entered the home, Parker said they discovered two bodies on the first floor near the entrance—those of Shelton and Ms. Rainey. Both had been shot to death.

Police said Rainey had also fired in the direction of his teenaged son, but that his son had managed to escape from the home without being harmed.

A second unidentified man also fled the scene, Parker said. Investigators were speaking to both survivors.

A check of police records showed that officers had not been called to the address within the past five years, according to Parker.

"What we're trying to sort out right now is who was where at what point," Parker told members of the media at a midday press conference.

The slayings come just 11 days after Tina Towler, 45, and James Vell Ferguson, 42, were found dead at their South Laurel apartment in an apparent double homicide. Police are still seeking clues in that incident and for information.

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The following are previous updates to this story.

Update, 12:02 pm.: A man has surrended to police after barricading himself in a West Laurel home Monday morning.

Police responded to the scene around 10:30 a.m. after learning of a man threatening harm to himself in the 16100 block of Malcolm Drive.

Prince George's County police searched for signs of other family members in the home, however, the man eventually surrended around 11 a.m. and is now in police custody.

We'll have more details after the press conference.

Original Post, 11:02 a.m.: Police say a man surrendered to authorities Monday morning after barricading himself briefly in West Laurel.

According to Prince George's County police spokeswoman Julie Parker, the incident involved a man threatening to harm himself in the 16100 block of Malcolm Drive.

As of 10:40 a.m., police were attempting to determine if other family members were inside the home with the subject.

By 10:55 a.m., Parker tweeted that the man had surrendered to police.


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