In the summer of 2019, the life of 24-year-old Mshairi Alkebular Jr. was cut short in a burst of violence that erupted in Suitland, Maryland. On the afternoon of August 5th, a simmering feud between two groups from Washington D.C. boiled over in the aftermath of a funeral service. The gathering was to mourn another victim of homicide, but tragically, it became the backdrop for yet another death.
As attendees began to leave the church on Suitland Road, a large fight broke out.
Prince George's County police officers who were present to manage the crowd heard gunshots nearby. A short distance away, they discovered Mshairi Alkebular Jr. next to a car, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he died later that evening.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to two suspects: 26-year-old Tavone Hoes and 25-year-old Gregory Sam, both from Southeast, Washington D.C. Authorities determined that the shooting was the result of an ongoing dispute. Following the funeral service, Hoes and Sam allegedly followed Alkebular. It is believed that Hoes fired into the car Alkebular was in. In the ensuing chaos, occupants of the victim's vehicle returned fire, striking Hoes in the arm. Sam was identified as the driver of the getaway vehicle.
Less than two weeks after the fatal shooting, both suspects were apprehended. Tavone Hoes was located at a hospital in the District of Columbia where he was seeking treatment for his gunshot wound. Gregory Sam was also taken into custody in D.C. Both men were subsequently charged with first-degree murder and other related offenses. They awaited extradition to Prince George's County to face legal proceedings for their alleged roles in the death of Mshairi Alkebular Jr.
