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2 arrested in Fort Washington gang shooting

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – Prince George’s police have arrested two teen boys and are looking for a third suspect in the gang-related shooting of Marcus Jones after a weekend house party in Fort Washington, Md.

Akil Darnell Ings, 17, of the 3800 block of Saint Barnabas Road in Suitland, and Kquantae Markies Fisher, 19, of the 6100 block of Kildare Court in Fort Washington, both face charges of first and second degree murder.

Police identified Ings as the gunman. He is currently being held in D.C. and is awaiting extradition to Prince George’s County. Fisher is being held without bond in the Prince George’s County Jail.

News of the arrests comes less than a day after police pleaded with parents and students to come forward with information about the fatal shooting during a community meeting at Friendly High School, where Jones attended. The shooting prompted school officials to make counselors available to students.

“Witness accounts and Crime Solvers tips played a big role in this case,” Police Chief Mark McGaw said during a Thursday afternoon press conference held to announce the two arrests. And police are asking for more help to identify the third suspect.

Investigators described that third suspect as a black male in his early to late teens, with a medium build and complexion. Police provided little information about his involvement.

“Akil Darnell Ings and Kquantae Markies Fisher are affiliated with a local gang. Marcus Jones was also affiliated with a different local gang, and we believe that these gang associations played a part in this tragic murder,” McGaw said.

Investigators believe that rival gang members attended the birthday party on Webster Lane in Fort Washington Saturday night and early Sunday morning. As tensions escalated, additional gang members were called to the party, police say.

When Ings, Fisher, and the third suspect arrived, they approached a group gathered outside, which included 16-year-old Jones.

Police say Ings pulled out a gun and shot Jones, but investigators don’t know whether Jones was targeted.

Officers recovered a gun at the scene, which is undergoing ballistic tests to determine if it was used to kill Jones, McGaw said.

Police say the house party for a teen girl was carefully planned by her parents. Only certain kids from Friendly High were invited, and they had to show ID at the door to enter.

Despite the adults’ efforts to keep the party under control, word of the celebration spread. Jones was shot early Sunday morning after he had left the party.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or text PGPD plus your message to CRIMES (274637) or visit princegeorgescountymd.gov/police and submit a tip online.

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WTOP’s Michelle Basch contributed to this report. Follow @mbaschwtop and @WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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