Md. funeral home owner accused of killing pallbearer at burial of 10-year-old girl who died of gun violence

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (TCD) -- A funeral home owner was taken into custody on suspicion of murder for allegedly shooting and killing a 30-year-old man and wounding a woman at a young girl’s funeral this week.

On Tuesday, June 6, at 1:20 p.m., Prince George’s County Police Department officers responded to a shooting call at a cemetery on the 4100 block of Suitland Road and found Ronald Banks injured from an apparent gunshot wound and another victim with a graze wound. Officials transported Banks to a nearby hospital, where he died soon after arriving.

According to the police department, investigators learned 48-year-old Wilson Chavis owns and operates the funeral home on Suitland Road. Chavis allegedly approached the victims as the burial service was "preparing to get underway" and shot them. Banks was serving as a pallbearer at the funeral.

Prince George’s County Police said Banks and the female victim "are affiliated with a second funeral service company with which Chavis has a long-standing business dispute."

Some of the funeral attendees reportedly "became upset with Chavis and confronted him over his behavior."

Chavis fled the scene in his vehicle following the shooting. However, a Morningside Police Department officer saw him, conducted a traffic stop, and arrested him.

NBC Washington reports Banks attended the funeral in honor of 10-year-old Arianna Davis, who was shot Sunday, May 14, on the 3700 block of Hayes Street NE. She died three days later. Metropolitan D.C. Police are offering up to $45,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects.

Chavis is in custody on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and other related charges.

Davis’ mother, Antionette Belk, told NBC Washington, "I’m so traumatized that this happened at my daughter’s burial site. I didn’t even get to lay her down, even to put her in the ground, and another incident happened. This is so traumatizing to me, my children, my whole family. It’s trauma after trauma."

MORE:

• PGPD Homicide Unit Charges Suspect For Fatal Shooting at Cemetery - Prince George's County Police Department
• 'Trauma after trauma': Maryland funeral home owner charged in murder at child's burial - NBC Washington
• Homicide: 3700 Block of Hayes Street, Northeast - Metropolitan D.C. Police Department
• $45,000 Reward - Metropolitan D.C. Police Department