In the late summer of 2014, the city of North Tonawanda, New York, was rocked by a brutal act of violence that claimed the life of 38-year-old Paul A. Maue. On September 6th, Maue and his friend, 31-year-old Daniel “DJ” Szymanski, were discovered shot to death in what authorities described as execution-style slayings. The two men, both members of the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club, were found inside Maue’s car, which was parked behind the club’s Oliver Street headquarters. Maue was in the driver's seat with a gunshot wound to the head, while Szymanski was in the passenger seat, having been shot in the neck.
The investigation into the double homicide swiftly centered on a fellow member of the Kingsmen, Andre Jenkins, who went by the moniker 'Little Bear.' Evidence presented during the subsequent trial painted a grim picture of the events that transpired. Prosecutors alleged that Jenkins had been in the backseat of the vehicle when he fired the fatal shots. Testimony from a crime scene investigator suggested that Szymanski was shot first, followed by Maue, who may have been attempting to flee when he was killed. A witness who had been with Jenkins earlier that night testified that he was armed with a handgun and had stated he was going to the clubhouse to see some friends.
The motive for the murders appeared to be rooted in the internal politics of the motorcycle club. It was revealed during the trial that the national president of the Kingsmen, David Pirk, had ordered Jenkins to 'take care of it,' a directive that was interpreted as a command to kill Maue and Szymanski. The case brought to light the violent underbelly of the organization, which federal authorities described as a sophisticated criminal enterprise involved in drug dealing and violence. The killings were seen as a definitive statement of the club's desire to align with more notorious 'one-percenter' motorcycle gangs.
Ultimately, justice was served for the killings of Paul Maue and Daniel Szymanski. Andre Jenkins was arrested and, following a four-month trial, a federal jury convicted him of a slew of charges, including murder in aid of racketeering, RICO conspiracy, and various firearms offenses. David Pirk was also convicted for his role in orchestrating the murders. The convictions were a significant blow to the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club, bringing an end to the reign of violence that its leadership had fostered.
