A Capitol Heights man will serve 80 years in prison for a shooting and attempted robbery that left two people in 2023. Tara Jackson, the State’s Attorney in Prince George’s County, announced the sentencing for Christopher Jamar Jenkins, 24, on Tuesday.
Jenkins was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in May for the shooting deaths of Xavier Matthews, 23, and Karon Moore, 26. Jenkins was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, one count of firearm usage in a violent crime, and one count of possessing a pistol as a prohibited person.
According to the Prince George’s County Police Department, officers were dispatched to the motel in the 5100 block of Allentown Road around 7 a.m. on June 28, 2023.
When officers arrived, they discovered two individuals had been shot. One of the guys died at the motel, while the other was sent to a nearby hospital. He died of his injuries a short time later.
A day later, authorities announced the arrest of two people involved in the fatal shooting, including the woman who rented the room.
Keymonte Day, 24, of Washington, D.C., and Jenkins were both charged with numerous counts of involvement.
The Super 8 management office acknowledged in criminal documents that Day had reserved a room at the motel where Matthews and Moore died.
During the investigation of the room, investigators discovered firearms, telephones, clothing, blood, and other evidence.
According to court filings, Matthews arrived with Day in his black Porsche SUV shortly before 5 a.m. After Day reserved the hotel, authorities say security video shows her placing a key card to their suite on the ground behind Matthews’ Porsche tires.
Shortly before 6:15 a.m., a blue Infiniti sedan approaches the motel, and a man grabs the hidden key card.
At 6:55 a.m., three suspects emerged from the Infiniti. Officers claim that the suspects, wearing masks to conceal their identities, approached the room with pistols before using the key card that Day is suspected of having hidden for them.
Shortly thereafter, Day was seen leaving the room and getting into the Infiniti. Soon, two of the three suspects exit, and the SUV drives away.
Jackson expressed hope that the punishment will provide some closure for the affected families.
“This tragedy was entirely preventable, and while no sentence can erase the families’ pain, we hope this brings some measure of justice,” she said in a statement. “This case is a reminder that violent actions have devastating consequences for victims, for families, and for the entire community. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable and to prevent violence before it occurs in our communities.”