Maryland Man Acquitted of Toddler Murder Convicted on Lesser Charges in Langley Park Shooting

Johnny Turcios was acquitted of the murder of 2-year-old Jeremy Poou-Caceres, who was killed by a stray bullet during a February 2024 shootout in Langley Park, Maryland, but was convicted of attempted second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and illegal possession of a firearm. The shooting arose from a dispute over drug distribution territory involving Turcios and Israel Fuentes Jr., the latter accused of firing the fatal shot and facing trial in January. Turcios’s defense challenged witness credibility and the lack of physical evidence directly linking him to the murder, while prosecutors argued that his intent to kill others still held him responsible for the consequences, including the child's death. Several witnesses, including a key testimony from David Medina, implicated Turcios in the shooting, and physical evidence such as shell casings and a firearm were presented at trial. Rosa Caceres, the boy’s mother who was also wounded, recognized Turcios at the scene, but the jury found insufficient evidence to convict him of murder or the attempted murder of Rosa. Prosecutors expressed disappointment over the verdict but emphasized that Turcios is being held accountable for his actions, with Fuentes’s trial pending.