Prince George’s County police are investigating whether disputes between neighborhood crews have caused the spike in homicides this year. Drugs have been a common theme in most of the nine killings in the first nine days of the year, Prince George’s police spokesman Maj. Andy Ellis said, and police are investigating whether “ongoing disputes between different crews in the county that occasionally flare up” could be contributing to the deaths. But Ellis added there have been no “strong indications” that gang violence or turf wars are to blame for the spike.

Most victims in the nine incidents have been black males. Most include a “drug nexus” or personal dispute between the suspect and victim, and most have occurred inside the Capital Beltway. Most of the killings do not appear related.