On the evening of September 2, 2023, what initially appeared to be a motorcycle accident on Branch Avenue and St. Barnabas Road in the Suitland area would soon be revealed as a fatal shooting. First responders found 48-year-old Brian Akinfe of Temple Hills, a male, unresponsive in the roadway near his motorcycle. While providing medical aid, they discovered he had sustained gunshot wounds. Akinfe was urgently transported to a local hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries on September 12, 2023.
The investigation into Brian Akinfe's death quickly shifted from a traffic incident to a homicide investigation led by the Prince George's County Police Homicide Unit. Their investigation uncovered evidence of an ongoing dispute between Akinfe and another man. This man was identified as 46-year-old Christopher Cross of Washington, D.C.
The dispute was reportedly over a child custody issue involving the mother of Akinfe's child, with whom Cross was in a relationship.
Evidence gathered by detectives painted a grim picture of the events that transpired. It is believed that on the day of the incident, Cross, driving a BMW, chased Akinfe, who was on his motorcycle, and shot him. This act caused Akinfe to lose control of his motorcycle and crash. Further investigation revealed text messages between the two men that indicated a 'tumultuous' relationship. In a chilling discovery, investigators found that just minutes before the fatal shooting, Cross had taken a photograph of Akinfe on his motorcycle, sent it to his girlfriend, and then instructed her to delete it.
In December 2023, Christopher Cross was arrested and charged with first and second-degree murder, along with other related charges, in connection with the death of Brian Akinfe. He was taken into custody in Washington, D.C., awaiting extradition to Prince George's County. In February 2025, a jury convicted Christopher Cross for the murder. During the trial, the prosecution presented strong evidence to secure the conviction, ensuring that Cross would be held accountable for his actions.
