Two men have been arrested and charged in the "random" killing of a Waldorf, Maryland, teen who was shot while walking home.
Darren Earl Miller, 24, of D.C., and Michael Rashid Moore, 22, of Waldorf, drove up to 18-year-old Walter Eugene Thomas as he walked on Fairchild Court March 4 and tried to rob him, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office.
“Tragic case,” said Diane Richardson of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. “We don’t see this in Charles County. The victim and his friend were just walking down the street. They were leaving a house, walking toward another, and the suspects just approached, and it appears that they just randomly fired that gun.”
Thomas ran away, and one of the men shot him. He then ran to Freemantle Court, where he collapsed and died, according to the sheriff's office.
Thomas' family was baffled as to why he was targeted. His mother, Shenna Foster, said her son was kindhearted.
"He would give you the shirt off his back," Foster said. "He didn't bother nobody."
Police soon began investigating whether shooting the night before Thomas' death just blocks away on Amber Leaf Place was connected in some way.
The victim in the Amber Leaf Place shooting survived, and police say they later learned that victim had an argument with Moore. In April, Moore was arrested in the Amber Leaf Place shooting on charges of assault and attempted murder.
It was more than a month later that Moore was connected to the shooting that killed Thomas, and it was determined Miller was also involved, police say.
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According to court documents, a witness told investigators Moore and Miller intended to commit a crime similar to what happened to the victim in the Amber Leaf Place shooting "in an attempt to throw off investigators."
“Disheartening to know that’s what happened,” Richardson said. “Alarming, and we’re just happy that we were able to make an arrest.”
Miller was arrested at his home in D.C. on murder charges, police say. Moore was already in detention but charged with first- and second-degree murder.
Both suspects are being held without bond.
Thomas was the youngest of four siblings and supported his mom through breast cancer. He graduated high school with honors before he was killed.
His mother said she is pleased by the arrests but still hurt because her son's death was so senseless.