🚨NO WHITE SUPREMACISTS INVOLVED🚨
🚨NO ISLAMIC JIHADISTS INVOLVED🚨
WUSA9 published July 8, 2025: Prosecutors wanted domestic violence suspect held without bond, but he was released and now his ex-g. Officers responded to reports of a shooting in an apartment on Stretford Way in Landover and found Sharita Cristwell dead.
ABC 7 News published July 8, 2025: Maryland man was in ankle monitor when he allegedly killed girlfriend in domestic dispute. The family of a woman shot and killed in a domestic dispute in Landover shared the pain of their sudden loss.
WUSA9 News, Maryland local
written by Alanea Cremen, Alexis Wainwright
Tuesday July 8, 2025
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — A man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend had previously been arrested after allegedly assaulting her. While prosecutors tried to have 32-year-old Harry Lindsey held without bond after the assault, County Executive Aisha Braveboy said in a press conference, Lindsey was released a week later, and now his ex is dead.
According to the Prince George's County Police Department, Lindsey is charged with shooting 29-year-old Sharita Cristwell to death over the Fourth of July weekend.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting in an apartment on Stretford Way in Landover and found Cristwell dead.
Investigators say Lindsey fled before officers arrived. They were able to gather information regarding his whereabouts with help from surveillance videos provided by the Metro Transit Police Department, and Lindsey was arrested Sunday morning in Capitol Heights.
It appears Cristwell and Lindsey had previously dated for 10 years, according to her family. Detectives say Lindsey shot Cristwell during an argument. He is now charged with first and second-degree murder and remains in the custody of the Department of Corrections without bond.
However, this was not the first time police had arrested Lindsey. On June 16, Lindsey was arrested after allegedly assaulting and strangling Cristwell.
Braveboy, who previously worked as Prince George’s County State’s Attorney, spoke about Cristwell's death at a press conference on Tuesday. Stating her former office had pushed for Lindsey to be held without bond after he was arrested for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. She said the day after leaving the state's attorney's office, prosecutors argued that Lindsey had tried to kill Cristwell by strangling her.
"Anyone who strangles you, intends to kill you. Make no mistake," Braveboy said on Tuesday. "When someone puts their hands around your neck, a ligature around your neck, cuts off your airflow, they intend to kill you, not just harm you, but kill you."
The request from prosecutors did not stop Lindsey from being released a week later, according to Braveboy.
"Unfortunately, the defendant was released," she said. "And then on July 5, Ms. Cristwell was killed."
Braveboy is hoping that what happened to Cristwell will help other victims of domestic violence set an example of what can happen if you stay.
"Don't stay. It does not get better. It only gets worse," she said. "If you are a victim of strangulation, please seek help."
Cristwell was a 29-year-old mother of two young children. Her biological mother and sister spoke through tears at the Tuesday press conference. Jerrie McCarter described how Lindsey had said he wanted to marry her daughter after the first reported assault.
“She was a beautiful person and a loving mother,” said Cristwell’s mother, Gereese McCotter. “They cry every day asking for their mom, but we’re going to work through this.”
Cristwell's family is speaking out, calling for more awareness and action to prevent future tragedies.
"I said, don't sit on this phone and tell me that you love my daughter and you don't mean it," McCarter said. "I said, I'm gonna tell you, don't ever put your hands on my daughter again, or we gonna have a problem. He said, Ma, I'm sorry, and I love you. I love your daughter. I'll never do it again. 4 days later. He killed my baby."
Now, McCarter says her grandchildren have lost their mother and their father.
"My daughter wanted to get away from him. He said, I don't want you to leave me, he said, please don't leave me, Rita," McCarter said. "If you leave me, I'm not gonna be any good. He broke down. I said you opened this door, you cheated on my daughter, so now, when she found somebody else that was making her happy, you're angry. You took her life. You get to go to jail and be free. I'll never get her back. Never get her back."
While facing a situation she never imagined she would be in, McCarter said she plans to put her grandchildren in therapy, love them, and take care of them.
"I'm gonna teach them if you ever get in a relationship and a man threatens you, you make sure you let me know, or you know how to call 911 and get help," she said. "I never thought I would be standing here talking about this right now. It's a hurtful feeling."
Cristwell's sister spoke through tears about how her little sister tried to get away, but it was too late.
"Never let anybody. I don't care if it's a man. I don't care if it's a woman. Do not let anybody put their hands on you," she said. "Don't give them chances. Don't give them chances. And don't believe anything they say. They're gonna manipulate you to the fullest. Don't listen to them. Do what you think is best for yourself, and please, if you have children, please find a way to get out. Your kids should not see a man or woman being beaten."
“There’s help out there,” McCotter said. “It’s too many women out here losing their lives over domestic violence. My daughter wanted to get away from him.”
The family has started a GoFundMe to help raise money for Cristwell's funeral services, but also to help her daughters. Click here to donate.
So far this year, police say there have been 10 domestic violence-related homicides in Prince George’s County.
Cristwell’s family hopes her story will raise awareness and help others seek support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.
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