PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — A trial was set to begin this week more than three years after an 8-year-old boy was shot and killed by a stray bullet while playing video games in his room, but that trial for one man charged with his murder has been delayed until 2025.
Jury selection for the trial of Desmond Nkwocha was set to start Monday, but that trial has been moved ─ now set for February 2025.
Nkwocha was one of three men indicted in the case that rocked the community in Landover three years ago.
Peyton "PJ" Evans was killed on Aug. 24, 2021, after someone opened fire outside an apartment complex in Landover. He was inside one of the units playing video games, having just gotten back from school and football practice.
George Shamman, 23, and Desmond Nkwocha, 21, were each indicted on 19 counts, and Desmond Nkwocha's 23-year-old brother, Mark Nkwocha, was indicted on 18 counts, including murder, use of a firearm during a violent crime, attempted murder, first degree assault and conspiracy.
In addition, 21-year-old Dominique Johnson was indicted on four counts, including attempted murder, for allegedly assaulting Mark Nkwocha on Aug. 23, 2021 ─ the day before PJ was killed.
Court documents show Johnson admitted to shooting at a red Volkswagen driven by Mark Nwkocha on Aug. 23, 2021 due to an ongoing dispute. Nwkocha allegedly fled the area before crashing. He was later arrested by Bladensburg Police.
According to court documents, several people were standing on a patio outside the apartment complex where PJ was shot on Aug. 24, 2021 when shots were fired. They all dropped to the ground to avoid being hit. Johnson told police he lives in the apartment complex and has been in an ongoing dispute with people he described as former friends, according to court documents.
RELATED: Court documents show shooting that killed PJ Evans may have been retaliation for previous shooting
Just before the shooting on Aug. 24, 2021, Mark Nwkocha was seen leaving the Department of Corrections and being picked up by a white Mercedes Benz with tinted windows and dark rims.
Police asked Johnson who he thought shot at the group, missing and killing PJ, and court documents show he answered that "Mark" could be responsible.
Police say they believe the shooting that killed PJ was in retaliation for the Aug. 23, 2021 shooting. Detectives do not believe PJ was an intended target.
Since his death, P.J.'s mom, Tiffani Evans, has become an anti-gun-violence advocate.
"I try to turn my pain into purpose," she told WUSA9 last year. "I honestly just try my best every day to try to push through and find a resolution to the issue [of gun violence]."