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Vigil Held For Postal Worker Killed On Duty In Landover

LANDOVER, Md. (WJZ)—Shot on the job! A Prince George's County postal worker is murdered while delivering the mail.

Rochelle Ritchie spoke with heartbroken letter carriers who say changes need to be made.

It's a very tragic story. Neighbors say they heard about seven gunshots. When police arrived, they found the 26-year-old dead.

Dozens of postal workers gathered Sunday night in Landover where letter carrier Tyson Barnette was shot and killed while delivering mail.

"That was one of my employees. I loved him like he was one of my own, so it really hurts me to my heart," said Sonja Carmichael, victim's supervisor.

Police tape surrounds the 1600-block of Reed Street, where Barnette died after being shot multiple times Saturday evening.

"It's very sad to see that a life is taken so easily, and it seems senseless. People just don't care, and life isn't precious anymore," a neighbor said.

Everyone in the crowd had one question on their mind: why?

"It's not right. The man was at work. All he wanted to do was do his job, and he got killed for it," said Karen Middleton, letter carrier.

Barnette was shot and killed at 7 p.m. Many of the people in the crowd say postal delivery hours need to change.

"Why are we out here this late? There is no reason why somebody can't get their mail at 2 p.m. the next day. Why do they need it at 8'o'clock that day?" a postal worker said.

Police do not have any suspects in his murder and are still trying to determine a motive.

"Killing somebody for whatever, it was unnecessary," a co-worker said.

The U.S. Postal Service is offering a $100,000 reward to anyone with information on Barnette's murder that leads to an arrest.

If you have any information on this murder, call Prince George's County Police.

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