FORT WASHINGTON, Md. – Lenwood “Lenny” Harris, the Alexandria activist whose body was found in a Fort Washington well, died of a gunshot wound, Prince George’s County Police said during a news conference Monday.

Rewards leading to the arrest and conviction of Harris’ killer total $38,000.

A “Lenny Harris Reward Fund” has been established by private donors at Virginia Commerce Bank. Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund can go to any bank branch and make a donation.

Authorities removed Harris’ body from the well Saturday. He had been missing since September.

Harris, 53, was last seen around 9 p.m. Sept. 21, 2011, according to Alexandria Police.

Police retrieved the body two days after an anonymous tip to look in an abandoned 20-foot well located behind a vacant home in the 11900 block of Old Fort Road.

There were delays in removing the body as police had to wait for a permit to obtain the equipment necessary to perform the excavation.

Prince George’s police, fire and hazardous materials officials had been on the scene since the discovery. Alexandria Police also aided in the investigation.

Before retrieving the body on Saturday, authorities had to pump water out from the bottom of the well, says Max Smith, a WTOP reporter who was on the scene Saturday.

A back hoe worked most of the day Saturday to dig down to the bottom of the well

Prince George’s police searched the bottom of the well for evidence after the body was removed.

After Harris disappeared in September, his phone was found on the Wilson Bridge, not far from the well. His car was found abandoned in October in Prince George’s County.

WTOP’s Ari Ashe, Max Smith and Veronica Robinson contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)