A Maryland funeral home owner was convicted of murder after fatally shooting a pallbearer during the burial service for a 10-year-old girl killed by a stray bullet in Washington, D.C.
Wilson Wesley Chavis, 50, the owner of Compassion and Serenity Funeral Home, was found guilty on Thursday in the killing of Ronald Steven Banks, 30, who had been serving as a pallbearer for Arianna Miracle Davis on June 6, 2023, Law & Crime reported. The tragic incident unfolded at Washington National Cemetery in Prince George's County as the young girl's loved ones gathered to lay her to rest.
Chavis reportedly confronted two individuals associated with a rival funeral home with whom he had an ongoing business dispute. When mourners objected to his behavior, he escalated the confrontation—pulling out a gun and firing two shots. Banks was struck and later died at the hospital, while one of Arianna's cousins was grazed by a bullet.
Witnesses described chaos and horror at the burial site. Arianna's grieving mother, Antionette Belk, recalled the trauma of seeing violence disrupt the final farewell of her daughter, who was tragically killed on Mother's Day the month before.
"I'm so traumatized that this happened at my daughter's burial site. I didn't even get to lay her down, even to put her in the ground, and another incident happened," Belk told NBC Washington.
Chavis, who was reportedly heard yelling, "I own this body!" and even spat on a pastor, attempted to flee the scene but was quickly arrested by police. He later claimed self-defense, but a jury found him guilty of murder, attempted murder and related charges.
Chavis now faces up to 65 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 11.
Originally published on Latin Times
