A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder after a fatal shooting inside the food court of a major Maryland casino, which left a 23-year-old man dead.
Suspect Arrested After 14-Hour Manhunt
Benjamin Williams, 22, from Fort Washington, was taken into custody by police in the early hours of Thursday morning. His arrest came roughly 14 hours after he allegedly shot and killed Darnell Hawkins Jr, 23, at the MGM National Harbor resort on Wednesday.
Williams now faces charges including first and second-degree murder. According to police charging documents cited by WTOP News, Williams contacted an unidentified person after the shooting, stating: 'I did something so bad, you might see me on the news. I killed someone.'
A Targeted Attack in a Busy Mall
Investigators have stated that the shooting was a targeted attack and that there is no ongoing threat to public safety. Prince George’s County Executive, Aisha Braveboy, emphasised this point at a press conference, saying: 'This was, we believe, a targeted attack.'
Police said the two men knew each other, though they did not elaborate on the nature of their relationship. Crucially, authorities confirmed there was no interaction between the pair immediately prior to the shooting.
The incident unfolded when Williams, who had arrived in a Honda Accord with temporary plates, walked through the casino and approached the food court area near the Shake Shack restaurant. Hawkins was reportedly placing a food order at the time.
Hawkins attempted to flee, but Williams allegedly pursued him until he was shot. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Swift Closure Thanks to Surveillance
Prince George’s County Police Chief, George Nader, explained that the suspect was quickly identified through extensive surveillance footage. 'There’s almost no areas in MGM that’s not covered by video, and that was instrumental in bringing this case to a swift closure,' he said.
Williams was located and arrested at a home in College Park, Maryland, at approximately 2am on Thursday. He remains in jail without bond.
Chief Nader sought to reassure the public, noting that violent crime in the county is down by 32% this year. 'It's rare that incidents like this occur,' he stated, adding, 'We can’t prevent every crime from occurring, but when we’re able to solve cases quickly and make arrests, I think it brings some comfort to not only the family but the community at large.'
The police chief also highlighted the public nature of the venue, comparing it to any other shopping mall where security checks for weapons are not standard. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
