ICYMI: Washington D.C. Funeral Home Owner Kills Pallbearer—at Child’s Burial!
A Washington, D.C., funeral home owner faces decades in prison for fatally shooting a pallbearer during a 10-year-old girl’s burial service. 🌐 #News #WashingtonDC #Crime
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A tragic burial for a 10-year-old girl turned deadly in Washington, D.C., when the owner of a funeral home gunned down a pallbearer in front of grieving attendees. The incident unfolded on June 6, 2023, as family and friends gathered to lay the young gunshot victim to rest. What began as a solemn farewell spiraled into violence, leaving one man dead and a community reeling.
The Shooting Unfolds
Wilson Wesley Chavis, 50, who runs Compassion and Serenity Funeral Home, was convicted on Thursday for the murder of 30-year-old Ronald Steven Banks.
The chaos erupted just before the burial began.
Authorities say Chavis clashed with two individuals from a rival funeral company over a long-running business feud. As tensions boiled over, several mourners confronted Chavis about his actions.
Moments later, he drew a firearm and shot twice. Banks, a pallbearer and close family friend of the deceased girl, Arianna Miracle Davis, took a fatal bullet, while another round grazed one of Arianna’s cousins.
A Mother’s Grief Compounded
Arianna’s mother, Antionette Belk, a teacher and parent of four, was devastated by the violence that shattered her daughter’s burial.
She later told local media she felt overwhelmed by the trauma, unable to properly say goodbye to her child.
Reports indicate Chavis shouted about owning the girl’s body and spat on a pastor during the confrontation, escalating the horror for those present.
Suspect Caught, Victim Mourned
After firing the shots, Chavis attempted to escape in his car.
His getaway was cut short when a Morningside Police Department officer stopped him nearby, according to Prince George’s County Police.
Chavis argued he acted to protect himself, but the court rejected his claim. Banks, who had been helping carry Arianna’s casket, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Arianna herself had died weeks earlier, struck by a stray bullet in her family’s car after a Mother’s Day outing in D.C. Three suspects are currently charged in her death, per the FBI.
A History of Conflict
The roots of the shooting trace back to a bitter rivalry.
The head of the competing funeral home had previously sought a temporary peace order against Chavis, citing alleged threats. That friction exploded into violence at the worst possible moment, forever marking Arianna’s burial.
Chavis now faces up to 65 years behind bars, with sentencing scheduled for July 11, according to court records.
Honoring the Victims
The heartbreaking events at Arianna Miracle Davis’s burial and the loss of Ronald Steven Banks have left a community in deep sorrow, yet their memory endures as a call to cherish every moment.
In times of such pain, we find solace in God’s promise, as Psalm 34:18 declares, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
May their families feel His comfort and strength, knowing that Arianna and Ronald are now in the eternal peace of His presence, forever honored by those who loved them.
RELATED TOPICS: Crime | Washington, D.C.
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