William James Doran, a 29-year-old male, tragically lost his life on the evening of December 10, 2021, in Joppa, Maryland. A hard-working equipment operator for Baltimore County, he was discovered slumped over in his vehicle on Dembytown Road after it struck a utility pole. First responders initially treated the incident as a motor vehicle accident, but upon administering CPR, paramedics found he had sustained a gunshot wound to his upper body.
Doran was transported to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Doran's death quickly shifted to a homicide. Authorities examining his phone discovered a series of hostile text messages from an individual identified as 'Reject P,' who was later determined to be Alton Cumbo, a 23-year-old from Edgewood. These messages included threats made against Doran earlier on the day of the fatal shooting. The investigation revealed that Doran had been shot just below the eye while he was driving.
On December 15, 2021, Alton Cumbo was located and arrested in Towson while walking his dog. He was subsequently charged with first and second-degree murder, as well as first and second-degree assault in connection with William Doran's death. Further investigation led to charges against Cumbo's girlfriend, Mahealani Linnc Donawa, who was accused of assisting Cumbo in fleeing the scene after the crime.
During his incarceration, Alton Cumbo made incriminating statements about the murder to fellow inmates, which were later used against him by prosecutors during his trial. The case proceeded to court, and Cumbo was found guilty of the murder of William James Doran. He was scheduled for sentencing on April 22, 2024.
