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Prince George’s police announce break in teen’s fatal shooting

By WTOP Staff

Thursday – 1/24/2013, 3:24 pm ET – WASHINGTON – Prince George’s County police say they have made two arrests in connection with the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Marcus A. Jones.

Police Chief Mark Magaw plans to release more details of the arrests at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Police have not released the names of the two people arrested nor what charges they face.

The arrests come less than a day after police pleaded with parents and community members to talk to their teens to find out what really happened at a teen party that turned deadly last weekend.

Thursday – 1/24/2013, 5:59am ET

Michelle Basch, wtop.com

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. – A 16-year-old boy was gunned down as he left a birthday party at a Fort Washington, Md., home last weekend, and officers are begging for tips that will lead them to his killer.

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

But despite the efforts by adults to keep the party under control, Prince George’s County Police Maj. Michael Straughan said word of the celebration spread to others.

“It went out on Twitter, and it went out on Facebook and it got to people that were not invited. It got to people that weren’t welcome. It got to people who were turned away or just showed up outside,” Straughan said. “So what happened strictly at midnight when the party ended, and a lot of parents were showing up and pulling up to pick up their children, as the crowd was letting out someone in the crowd fired shots.”

The shooting happened early Sunday morning in the 7700 block of Webster Lane, and 16-year-old Marcus Jones was killed.

The gunman is described only as a black male in his late- to early teens, with a medium complexion and a medium build.

Investigators called a community meeting Wednesday night at Friendly High, and urged parents to talk to their kids and convince them to share anything they know about the shooting.

More than 200 parents, students and concerned residents attended.

“Somebody knows who did this, who committed this crime and any information you have, please do not withhold it,” said Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.

“We cannot tolerate the loss of our young people.”

Prince George’s County Police Maj. Jason Bogue said he, like many who attended the meeting, is a parent.

“It ticks me off that something like this, this tragic event, had to happen because we know it did not,” Bogue said.

“This meeting is about getting information and making certain this case is solved for your community,” Bogue added.

Police have increased patrols in the area where the shooting happened, and the number of school resource officers at the school has been increased from one to two.

Friendly High also has brought in extra psychologists and counselors to help students deal with what happened, but there have been fights at the school and some students have stayed out of class out of fear.

During the meeting, someone asked if the school would consider adding metal detectors.

“We are presenting a comprehensive security plan to the Board of Education on Feb. 7,” said Rex Barrett with Prince George’s County Schools security. “Everything’s on the table as far as that goes. Metal detectors will be part of the proposal, but that’s something that we have to look into.”

Also at the meeting, a man who identified himself as the dead boy’s grandfather took to the microphone speaking in a voice cracking with emotion.

He spoke about losing both his son and grandson to bullets.

Anyone with information about Jones’ death is asked to call Prince George’s County police at (301) 772-4925.

Those who wish to remain anonymous with tips can call Crime Solvers at (866) 411-TIPS.

Those with information also can text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) with a mobile phone, or provide a tip online here.

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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