This story was updated at 9:15 a.m. April 9.

Police have identified a man who was found dead of a gunshot wound on a sidewalk in Fort Washington early Saturday.

Matthew Cedric Bovell, 26, of the 700 block of Bricker Drive in Fort Washington, was pronounced dead on the scene, and following a preliminary investigation, police believe Bovell was in the process of stealing from a vehicle when he was shot.

Police responded about 7 a.m. to a call about a man found lying on the sidewalk in the 7300 block of Webster Turn, said Cpl. Larry Johnson, a spokesman for the Prince George’s County Police Department.

Cpl. Mike Rodriguez, a county police spokesman, said he did not know what specifically Bovell was allegedly stealing. Rodriguez also said he did not know where the gunshot wound was on Bovell’s body.

He said he did not know who is believed to have shot Bovell or whether the owner of the targeted vehicle is suspected.

“I couldn’t tell you if it was an owner [of the vehicle] or neighbor or stranger, it’s still an unknown suspect,” Rodriguez said.

Online Prince George’s County District Court records show Bovell was charged in August 2011 with theft over $10,000, unauthorized removal of property and reckless endangerment for a March 7, 2011, incident. A phone number for Bovell’s residence could not be located.

Calls to Suitland-based lawyer, Joseph Vallario, who defended Bovell during his 2011 charges, went unanswered Monday morning.

Police have not determined a motive and are looking for the public’s help in finding possible suspects, Johnson said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers 866-411-8477 or the department’s homicide unit at 301-772-4925.

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