In the quiet, early moments of an October morning in Mount Rainier, Maryland, the life of 24-year-old Alonzo James Guyton was tragically cut short. Just after midnight on October 25, 2011, officers responded to the 4200 block of Kaywood Drive after reports of a shooting. There they found Guyton suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival.
At the time of his death, Guyton was a freshman at Howard University and was walking to a friend's house when the fatal encounter occurred. He was also a former Marine who was known by his loved ones for his joyful nature and his passion for music.
The investigation into Guyton's death quickly pointed to a robbery gone wrong. A witness at the scene reported seeing a blue van, which was later involved in a car accident in Washington, D.C. Inside the stolen vehicle, police discovered a handgun. A significant breakthrough in the case came when a handprint linked 20-year-old William Knight to the shooting. Knight, a resident of the District of Columbia, was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Further investigation by the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit led to the identification of two additional suspects. Lorenzo Carlton, 21, of Silver Spring, and 18-year-old Michael Jordan from Washington, D.C., were also taken into custody. Both men were charged with first-degree murder in connection with Alonzo Guyton's death.
In January 2014, William Knight and Michael Jordan stood trial for their alleged roles in the murder of Alonzo Guyton. They faced charges of first-degree murder and other related offenses stemming from the fatal shooting that authorities believe was motivated by a robbery. The trial brought to light the senseless violence that ended the promising life of a young university student and former Marine.
