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2-26-13 Update:

Prince George’s County police are giving more detail into the investigation that led to an arrest in the murder of Central High school student Marckel Ross.

When the 18-year old honor student from Capitol Heights was found dead from a single gunshot wound back on Sept. 11, investigators didn’t have a reason for what appeared to be a senseless shooting. Monday’s arrest of 20-year-old Travon Bennett in connection with killing revealed a clear motive.

“We are still investigating what actually happened. We do not have any property that was taken from Marckel Ross that we know of. We believe there was a confrontation on the sidewalk between Travon Bennett and Marckel Ross,” said Major Michael Straughan, of the county’s criminal investigation division. “At the time that Marckel was murdered, Travon Bennett acted alone, was alone, and we believe the motive was an attempted robbery.”

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CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. – It has been two days since a student at Central High School in Capitol Heights was gunned down on the way to class.

There is still no suspect or motive in the senseless murder of Marckel Ross. His death cast a somber note over the first back to school event of the year.

About a half dozen Prince George’s County police detectives and officials gathered in the auditorium to answer questions about the case. They also announced a $25,000 reward for information that helps them catch the killer.

Detectives working the case say they don’t have a lot to go on right now.

They don’t know if Ross was targeted, and they’re throwing every available resource at the case to find out.

“It’s going to take the smallest tip to solve this case, and we want to hear all of it,” says Major George Nader of Prince George’s County Police.

A parent with the fashion club that Ross loved so much says he was bullied last year, but she thought it was over. Some wondered if perhaps it wasn’t.

“We spoke to school security, and every day in the halls, I would ask him if someone was bothering him, and he would say, ‘I’m okay,”‘ says Ketsha Brown.

Police are promising stepped up patrols both before and after school to help the students feel safe.

The back to school night crowd broke up early to hold a vigil to honor Ross, the least likely person many thought would die so tragically.

“Marckel he was a great kid,” Omoni Phillips says. “If you were having a bad day, he would come and cheer you up.”

“A big part of us is gone,” says Gene James. “He was such a part of our class picture, and now it’s incomplete.”

CrimePAY$ $25,000 Murder Reward 1-888-755-TIPS (8477)

This entry was posted on Friday, September 14th, 2012 at 1:38 pm and is filed under $10,000+, Maryland, Solved. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.