Maryland funeral director found guilty of murder for shooting during burial service
A Maryland funeral director was found guilty of murder after he shot two people during a burial service for a 10-year-old, according to the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office.
In June 2023, Wilson Wesley Chavis, 50, went to the Washington National Cemetary in Suitland where the funeral home that he owned was conducting a service for a child who was killed in Washington, D.C.
Court officials said Chavis got involved in an argument with people from another funeral home and at some point pulled out a gun and fired.
One of the gunshots hit 30-year-old Ronald Banks who was a pallbearer, and another grazed a woman, according to officials.
Banks died at a hospital and the woman survived.
During their investigation, Prince George's County police found that Chavis confronted two people from another funeral home as the service was about to begin. He reportedly had a long-standing business dispute with the company.
After the shooting, Chavis fled the scene and was arrested during a traffic stop.
Court officials said Chavis could face up to 65 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11.
The burial service that was being held was for 10-year-old Arianna Davis of Washington, D.C. who was shot while in the car with her family on Mother's Day. She died three days later.
"The saddest part about that day was that the mother of Arianna Davis said she never got to see her daughter be buried and lowered into the ground," Assistant State's Attorney William Porter told our partners at WUSA9. "Someone had to tell her where her daughter was buried later."
