On the evening of January 27, 2016, Derrick Jermaine McCray, a 41-year-old male, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 5600 block of St. Barnabas Road in Oxon Hill, Maryland. First responders arrived at the scene around 6:20 p.m. and transported him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries several hours later. At the time of his death, McCray was described as having no fixed address.
The Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit promptly
launched an investigation into the shooting. Initially, authorities sought help from the public to identify a suspect and a motive, offering a substantial reward for any information that would lead to an arrest and indictment. While the police did not believe the act was random, the motive was not immediately clear.
Months later, in October 2016, a breakthrough in the case led to the arrest of 28-year-old Tavone Martin. Martin, who was also of no fixed address, was charged with first and second-degree murder in connection with McCray's death. Investigators revealed that the victim and the suspect were known to be friends. The motive for the shooting, however, remained under investigation following the arrest.
Tavone Antone Martin was later brought to trial for the killing of Derrick Jermaine McCray. A jury found Martin guilty of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. For these crimes, he was sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison, consisting of a 30-year sentence with all but 20 years suspended for the murder charge, and a consecutive 15-year term for the handgun conviction.
