Funeral home director allegedly kills pallbearer during girl's burial

A Maryland funeral home owner upset with another company allegedly shot dead a pallbearer during the burial of a 10-year-old girl who died in a drive-by shooting in Washington, DC, on Mother’s Day. Arianna Davis, who was shot while asleep in her family’s car on May 14 and later died, was being buried at Washington National Cemetery in Suitland on Tuesday when gunfire erupted, NBC Washington reported. Wilson Chavis, 48, owner of the Compassion and Serenity Funeral Home, allegedly killed Ronald Banks, 30, who served as a pallbearer at the funeral, as a result of the longstanding business dispute with Freeman Funeral Services. A woman who was Arianna’s cousin suffered a leg wound in the shooting, the girl’s mother, Antionette Belk, told the news outlet. Chavis, of Hughesville, Maryland, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder and attempted murder, according to Prince George’s County police. The deadly violence erupted after the suspect, who provided services for the funeral, confronted a pastor and another person who were reportedly affiliated with Freeman Funeral Services, Fox 5 DC reported. Homicide victim Ronald Banks Ronald Banks was fatally shot as a result of a dispute between the suspect and a competing funeral home, officials said. Courtesy of family At the gravesite, Chavis looked at the pastor and yelled, “I’m here for all you b—–a– n——!,” according to court documents cited by WUSA 9. He then allegedly pushed the pastor and said, “This ain’t your f—— funeral home,” according to the outlet. When several mourners confronted him about “disrespecting the family,” Chavis backed up, tripped over a nearby concrete vault lid and fell, the documents state. He then got back up, pulled a gun from his waistband and opened fire, officials said. The accused gunman was arrested at a traffic stop a short time later.