On a quiet Christmas Eve in District Heights, Maryland, the life of 53-year-old Kevin Simmons was tragically cut short. On December 24, 2023, at approximately 11:10 p.m., police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 2900 block of Ritchie Road. Inside, they discovered Simmons suffering from gunshot wounds. He was a male resident of the District Heights community.
Emergency services transported Simmons to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead
a short time later. In the immediate aftermath, detectives from the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit began their investigation. While the motive was not initially clear, authorities stated that they did not believe the shooting was a random act. A reward of up to $25,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case.
The investigation led police to identify 52-year-old Michael Crawford as the alleged assailant. A warrant was issued for his arrest, charging him with first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, use of a firearm by a felon, reckless endangerment, and carrying a loaded handgun. The search for Crawford extended beyond Maryland, culminating in his capture on January 9, 2024. Members of the U.S. Marshals Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Capitol Area Fugitive Task Force, and the West Haven Police Department located and arrested Crawford at a residence on Gregory Lane in West Haven, Connecticut. He was taken into custody to be held pending extradition to Maryland to face the charges related to the death of Kevin Simmons.
