In the early hours of a cold February morning in 2014, Craig Ray Jr., a 34-year-old Black man, was shot and killed outside a home in the 2400 block of Wilgrey Court in South Baltimore. A dedicated Maryland Transit Administration bus driver for five years, he was known by friends and family as a hardworking man who was committed to his job and loved his family.
The tragic events that led to his death began with a simple request for a neighbor to turn down loud music so he could get some sleep before his early shift.
The dispute escalated, and what started as a plea for quiet ended in senseless violence. Ray was shot multiple times in the back in what investigators believe was a retaliatory act for him having called the police about the noise. His death left his family, including his father, Craig Ray Sr., devastated and searching for answers in the face of such a brutal and sudden loss.
In the weeks that followed, the Baltimore police investigation led to the arrest of a suspect, 34-year-old Kevin Carroll, who was charged with first-degree murder. The arrest brought a glimmer of hope to Ray's grieving family that justice would be served. However, this hope was short-lived. In September of that year, all charges against Carroll were dropped. His attorney provided phone records and other evidence that proved Carroll was on the other side of town with his girlfriend at the time of the shooting.
Following the dismissal of charges against Carroll, the investigation into Craig Ray Jr.'s murder was closed. It is unclear if the case was ever officially reopened by the Baltimore Police Department. To this day, the murder of Craig Ray Jr. remains unsolved, and his killer has not been brought to justice, leaving his family with a permanent void and a painful lack of closure.
