VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Maryland State Police (MSP) confirm a vehicle crash in Prince George's County Thursday morning claimed the life of an infant and injured two other children and the suspect connected to an AMBER Alert out of Virginia Beach.
The crash happened as state police from Virginia and Maryland pursued a black Honda SUV driven by 36-year-old Dana Demetrius Plummer.
Police say Plummer is accused of stabbing the mother of his children and girl at a residence on Jay Are Court Wednesday evening before driving off with his three children. The two stabbing victims were taken to local hospitals, each with multiple stab wounds, the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) said.
An AMBER Alert was issued for the children about five hours later, around 2 a.m. Thursday.
Around 8:45 a.m., police in Fairfax County got a tip from a driver on I-95 North about seeing the suspect vehicle. Virginia State Police (VSP) troopers tracked down the vehicle, but Plummer would not stop.
Around 9 a.m., MSP said their troopers were called to help VSP with a police chase of Plummer's vehicle as it crossed state lines on I-495 North. As Plummer tried to take the ramp for Exit 7 onto Route 5 South/Branch Avenue, police say he lost control of the SUV and overturned several times. Police say two other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Zariyah Plummer, a 16-month-old, was severely injured and flown by a Maryland State Police helicopter to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she died.
Two boys, 5-year-old Zayir Plummer and 7-year-old Zayin Plummer, and their father had serious but not life-threatening injuries from the crash and were transported to local hospitals by ambulance.
There were no other injuries in the crash, and police say the stabbing victims are now in stable condition.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones who are grieving this morning,” Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said in a press release. “This is an unimaginable tragedy, and on behalf of the VBPD, I extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this loss.”
While it remains unclear why Plummer allegedly stole these children, neighbors told 13News Now he was "a perfect gentleman" and purposefully moved right next door to his family to be close.
"He was the nicest guy, and she was the nicest woman," said one neighbor who did not want to be identified. "We didn't speak much but we could see them all playing in the front yard together, barbequing, laughing. They seemed like a nice family."
Neighbors said they watched the children go back and forth between Plummer's house and the woman's house, which are only steps away from each other. Neighbors said they occasionally heard arguments between Plummer and the children's mother, but never thought this kind of violence would ever happen to their neighborhood and this family.
"When we did see him, he always talked about his kids, or he would joke around with my husband," said the neighbor. "I know he loved his kids, I know she did, too."
Virginia State Police cancelled the AMBER Alert just after 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the crash investigation. Virginia State Police is leading the investigation into the police pursuit. And the Virginia Beach Police Department is investigating the abduction and circumstances leading up to it.
Plummer is charged in Virginia Beach with two counts of Aggravated Malicious Wounding, three counts of Parental Abduction, four counts of Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor, and Domestic Assault.
He is likely to face additional charges, pending the outcome of those investigations.