Two young men were shot to death during a meeting that began as a drug transaction in Bladensburg, Maryland. On January 30, 2019, officers from the Town of Bladensburg and the Prince George’s County Police Department responded about 5:05 pm to the 5000 block of 57th Avenue, where 24-year-old Varney Batener Jr. and 23-year-old Jonathan Contreras were found outside with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to a nearby hospital but were pronounced dead a short time later.

Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit investigators determined the two had arranged to meet for an illegal drug deal; an argument inside a car escalated, both men drew firearms, and each was shot. With both principals deceased, detectives closed the investigation into the double fatal shooting.

If anyone witnessed the meeting on 57th Avenue that evening or has information about either man’s movements that day, please come forward.