Funeral Home Director Who Fatally Shot Pallbearer During Child's Burial Service Convicted

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A funeral home director has been found guilty of murder after he shot two people during a burial service for 10-year-old Arianna Davis of Washington, D.C., who was shot while in the car with her family on Mother's Day 2023. She died three days later.

According to the Prince George's County State's Attorney Office, on June 6, 2023, Wilson Wesley Chavis, 50, went to the Washington National Cemetery in Suitland where the funeral home he owned was holding a service for Davis.

The prosecution said Chavis argued with people from another funeral home when the little girl's service was about to begin and at some point, pulled out a gun and fired, hitting 30-year-old Ronald Banks who was a pallbearer at the child's service, and a bullet grazed a woman. Banks died at a hospital and the woman survived. According to investigators, Chavis had a long-standing business dispute with the other funeral home. Court documents stated Chavis yelled profanities at the pastor and two people from the rival funeral company while the funeral service was taking place. When Chavis shoved the pastor, attendees tried to step in, including Banks, court documents showed. He fled the scene and was later arrested during a traffic stop.

“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,” said Assistant State’s Attorney William Porter. “Someone had to tell her where her daughter was buried later.”

Chavis could face up to 65 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 11.