In a quiet Silver Spring, Maryland neighborhood, a story of a life well-lived came to a tragic and unexpected end. Donna Marie McCollough Lewis, a 70-year-old African American woman, was found deceased in her home on Three Oaks Drive on the morning of September 3, 2020. A concerned family member made the grim discovery after entering the residence to check on the occupants.
Authorities who responded to the 9-1-1 call found not one, but two individuals deceased inside the home.
Alongside Donna Lewis was her 71-year-old ex-husband, Arnold Ringgold. Investigators learned that the couple was divorced, but Ringgold had recently moved back into the residence with Lewis.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined that Donna Lewis's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. Arnold Ringgold's death was ruled a suicide, also by a gunshot wound. Based on these findings, detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division concluded that the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.
Donna Lewis was remembered as a woman devoted to her family and a dedicated public servant. She had a long and successful career, retiring after 50 years of service from the Washington Gas Light Company, where she was known as 'Miss Fix It.' During her time there, she was a trailblazer in advocating for racial and employment parity for African American employees. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, known for her warmth, kindness, and beautiful smile.
