On the evening of Thursday, March 21, 2024, a burst of gunfire shattered the peace in Suitland, Maryland, ending the life of 31-year-old Donnel Jamal Tyler. A Black male from the nearby community of District Heights, Tyler was discovered by Prince George's County Police officers in a parking lot in the 4600 block of Silver Hill Road around 7:30 p.m., suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving a community to grapple with the sudden and violent loss.
The Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit quickly launched an investigation into the tragic shooting. Their efforts to piece together the events of that evening led them to two individuals who they believe were involved in an argument with Tyler just before he was killed. Investigators worked diligently, and their persistence paid off in a matter of days.
On March 25, 2024, authorities announced a significant development in the case with the arrest of two suspects. Shaquita Stewart, a 41-year-old woman, and Wardell Holland III, a 44-year-old man, both residents of Suitland, were taken into custody. Police stated that the suspects and Tyler were acquainted with one another. Following the arrests, charges were filed against the pair. Stewart faced charges of first- and second-degree murder, as well as being an accessory after the fact. Holland was charged with second-degree murder for his alleged role in the shooting. The swift apprehension of the suspects brought a small measure of resolution to a community shaken by the violence.
