51-year-old woman shot, killed on street in Capitol Heights

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. - Prince George's County Police are searching for who shot and killed a 51-year-old woman in Capitol Heights.

Jan Cotto was found shot in the street near her home on Zelma Avenue, according to officials. The shooting happened around 11 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Zelma and Central Avenue. Cotto was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Neighbors say Cotto was a sweet lady who would frequently stop and chat as she walked to and from the Addison Road Metro stop. According to her Facebook page, Cotto was a mother of three.

"Every time she'd come back (from the metro), she'd be singing," said neighbor AT Thomas. "Real nice person." Thomas said he was shocked when he learned she was the person who was shot in front of his home.

"I said, 'I see her every day.' It took all the starch out of me. When you see somebody is always happy and then all of a sudden you hear about them getting shot," said Thomas.

Police said they have no suspects and are asking for the public's help. While they couldn't say what led up to the shooting, investigators don't believe this was a random crime.

On Friday afternoon, police were in and out of the boarder house where Cotto lived. A neighbor said Cotto had moved in a few months ago.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-866-411-TIPS. A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.