In the late hours of a Thursday evening, the sounds of gunshots shattered the quiet of an Aspen Hill neighborhood. It was May 7, 2020, when 19-year-old Robert George Dockery III, a male known affectionately to some as 'lil Bobby,' was fatally wounded. Patrolling officers in the vicinity of Hewitt Avenue heard the shots around 11:35 p.m. and began to investigate.
Their search was soon guided by a flurry of calls to the Emergency Communications Center, all reporting a shooting in the 3100 block of the same street.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered Dockery lying in the street, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. They immediately rendered aid and awaited the arrival of Fire and Rescue personnel. Dockery was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries, passing away just a week before his twentieth birthday. His death was officially ruled a homicide, prompting an investigation by the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division.
In the days and weeks that followed, detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the young man's death. However, the case proved to be challenging. More than a year after the incident, in May of 2021, investigators announced that they had exhausted all viable leads and were turning to the public for assistance. A reward of up to $10,000 was offered for any information that could lead to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for Dockery's death. As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made in the case, and no suspects have been publicly identified, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved justice for the untimely death of Robert George Dockery III.
