On a spring evening in Prince George's County, a day that had been filled with the simple joys of a family cookout turned tragic for 16-year-old Cardarius Becton. The male teenager, known for his love of dirt bikes, had borrowed a friend's bike and, accompanied by his best friend, went for a ride in a nearby parking lot in the 1900 block of South Addison Road, not far from District Heights. It was there, at approximately 7:30 p.m.
on May 5, 2006, that they encountered a group of three or four men who seemingly intended to rob them of the bike.
According to his mother, Cardarius was known to avoid conflict and would have readily given up the bike. He and his friend were attempting to flee when a senseless act of violence cut his young life short. A single gunshot struck Cardarius in the back. As he collapsed, his primary concern was for his friend, urging him to keep running to safety. His friend, however, remained by his side. The inseparable pair, who even shared a passion for rap and had recently recorded a CD together, were tragically parted by this violent encounter.
In the immediate aftermath, Prince George's County police began their investigation into the homicide. However, publicly available information has not provided any details regarding suspects or arrests in the years that have followed. The case of who was responsible for the death of Cardarius Becton remains without a public resolution, leaving a lingering sense of injustice for a life taken so unexpectedly and violently. The narrative of that day, as recounted by his grieving mother, is one of a young man who was not looking for trouble but was tragically caught in an unprovoked attack from which he tried to escape.
