In the early morning hours of January 28, 2007, a night out with friends tragically ended in the death of Travis LaShawn Robinson, a 26-year-old Black / African American man. Robinson, a resident of Suitland, Maryland, had gone to J's Sport's Café in Laurel with a friend, where they met up with several other acquaintances. The group remained at the café until its closing at 2:30 a.m.
The events that followed the closing of the café are detailed in a subsequent civil lawsuit filed by
Robinson's mother and the mother of his children. According to the court documents, an altercation began in the parking lot when a group of men blocked a vehicle from leaving. This initiated a series of events that would ultimately involve security guards and an off-duty Prince George's County police corporal, leading to a physical confrontation.
The lawsuit alleged that Robinson was wrongfully battered, leading to his death. The legal action named Prince George's County, Corporal Terrace Jenkins, and two other individuals, Alex Kim and Deok Lee, as defendants, claiming wrongful death, battery, and violation of civil rights. The court later dismissed the case against Kim and Lee, and a summary judgment was granted in favor of Prince George's County and Corporal Jenkins. Online sources do not provide details of a criminal investigation, nor do they mention any arrests or charges being filed against any of the individuals involved in the altercation. The specific cause of Travis Robinson's death is not detailed in the available documents.
