MD Funeral Home Owner Gets Prison Time For Fatally Shooting Pallbearer

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The owner of a Prince George's County funeral home will spend more than three decades in prison for fatally shooting a pallbearer during a 10-year-old girl's burial service in 2023.

On Friday, a judge sentenced Wilson Chavis to 35 years in prison for shooting Ronald Banks during a service for 10-year-old Arianna Davis of Washington, D.C., who died after she was struck by a stray bullet while in the car with her family on Mother's Day 2023, according to a WTOP report citing Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson.

Chavis was convicted of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and weapons charges in February.

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

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Prosecutors said Chavis got into an argument with employees from another funeral home as the little girl's service was about to begin. Chavis then pulled out a gun, fired and hit Banks, who was a pallbearer at the child's service. A bullet also grazed a woman.

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.

Chavis fled the scene after the shooting and was later arrested during a traffic stop.

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