In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 12, 2015, a large party at a residence in the 15700 block of Hickory Knoll Road in Accokeek, Maryland, was coming to an end. Among the attendees was 20-year-old Daryl Sylvester King Jr. of Waldorf. Shortly after leaving the gathering, at approximately 1:00 a.m., gunshots rang out, and King was found outside suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and King was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
The Prince George's County Police Department quickly launched a homicide investigation into the death of the young male. Detectives began the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The party had been a massive affair, with estimates of several hundred people in attendance, making the process of identifying potential witnesses a significant challenge. Investigators worked to determine a motive for the shooting and to identify any person or persons who may have been involved in an altercation or dispute with King.
In the days and weeks that followed, the police and King's family made public appeals for information. A substantial reward of up to $25,000 was offered for any tips that would lead to an arrest and indictment in the case. Family members spoke of their heartbreak and pleaded for anyone with knowledge of the shooting to come forward, emphasizing that the large number of people present meant that someone must have seen what happened. Despite these efforts and the numerous potential witnesses, the investigation proved to be difficult.
As of the most recent available information, the death of Daryl Sylvester King Jr. remains an unsolved homicide. No arrests have been publicly announced, and no suspects have been officially named in connection with the shooting. The case continues to be an open investigation, awaiting the break that will bring closure to a family still seeking justice for the loss of their loved one.
