Mother, Son Shot To Death in P.G. Home on Hickory Drive

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. - A middle aged mother and her adult son were shot to death in their home at 11808 Hickory Dr. in the Indian Head section of Prince George’s County.

Police say 56-year-old Patricia Mercer Harris and 20-year-old son Frank Harris, Jr. were struck multiple times by gunshots.

A spokeswoman for the department said someone who lives in the house called 911 at 4:37 a.m. to report the shootings. Neighbors say the only other person who lives in the house is the family father, 60-year old Frank Harris.

After questioning the caller for hours, police released a statement saying, “Investigators are still working to develop a motive and suspect in this case.”

Mrs. Harris had another son from a previous relationship. Neighbors say he rarely visited and was not seen recently.

Detectives arranged for tow trucks to take away all five vehicles used by family members.

Several neighbors told reporters the Harris family was quiet and apparently untroubled. One resident remembered that Mr. Harris hosted Boy Scout campouts in the backyard for his son’s troop.

According to a yearbook, Frank Harris, Jr. graduated from Friendly High School in 2008. In a recent posting on his Facebook page, young Frank wrote that he “couldn’t wait” to start classes at the College of Southe Maryland.