In the early morning hours of November 29, 2020, the life of 18-year-old Michael Adom of Woodbridge, Virginia, was tragically cut short. A large gathering in the 4000 block of Westwind Drive was violently interrupted by the sound of gunshots. As the crowd scattered, Adom was struck. He was privately transported to a local hospital with life-threatening gunshot wounds, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. He was a male, and his ethnicity has not been publicly disclosed.
The Prince William County Police Department launched an intensive investigation into the homicide. Their efforts quickly led them to a suspect, and on December 2, 2020, they arrested 19-year-old Marquis Rene Whitmore, also from Woodbridge. Whitmore was taken into custody without incident and charged with felony homicide, conspiracy to commit a felony, and concealing or compounding offenses. The investigation revealed that Whitmore was an acquaintance of Adom and was present at the gathering when the shooting occurred.
Further investigation by homicide detectives identified three other individuals believed to be involved in the events surrounding Adom's death. On December 4, 2020, police arrested 19-year-old J'Vahn Durgan and 19-year-old Wilford Amoako Osei, both of Woodbridge. Four days later, on December 8, 18-year-old Joseph Alpha Tarawalie of Washington D.C. was also taken into custody. All three were charged with accessory after the fact in a felony, conspiracy to commit a felony, and attempted shooting into an occupied dwelling.
Following their arrests, all four suspects were held without bond. The initial court date for Marquis Rene Whitmore and the three other co-defendants was set for February 19, 2021. However, the final disposition of the charges against Marquis Rene Whitmore, J'Vahn Durgan, Wilford Amoako Osei, and Joseph Alpha Tarawalie are not available in the public records searched.
