In the quiet city of Hyattsville, Maryland, a community was left in mourning following the unexpected death of its leader, Mayor Kevin Ward. A 44-year-old male, Ward was the city's second Black mayor and its first openly gay mayor. His tenure as a public servant in Hyattsville began in 2015 when he was elected as a Ward 1 City Council member, a role he held for five years.
During his time on the council, he was a proponent for establishing Hyattsville as a Sanctuary City and advocated for the expansion of youth programs. He stepped into the role of interim mayor in January 2021 before being formally elected in the spring of that year.
The city announced with great sadness that Mayor Kevin Ward had passed away on January 25, 2022. His death was determined to be the result of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. His body was discovered in Fort Marcy Park in McLean, Virginia. The news of his sudden passing sent shockwaves through the community, with many remembering him as a valued and trusted leader who was a fierce advocate for the people of Hyattsville. Tributes and condolences poured in from fellow politicians and community members who recalled his warm and magnetic personality.
In the months following his death, a different story began to emerge. In August 2022, a federal lawsuit was filed that accused Ward of embezzling more than $2.2 million. The alleged theft took place between April 2020 and October 2021, while he was serving as the senior director of technology for KIPP DC, a network of public charter schools in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit claimed that Ward had created a fraudulent company to which he directed payments for technology services and devices that were never delivered. The legal action sought the forfeiture of properties, vehicles, and other assets that were allegedly purchased with the misappropriated funds. The City of Hyattsville was not implicated in the allegations. There have been no arrests or suspects in connection with his death.
