WASHINGTON — Police have arrested twin teenagers and charged them with the shooting death of a 22-year-old man inside a mall in Prince George's County.
Daquan Dockery of Washington, D.C., was found dead in a clothing store at the Mall at Prince George's in Hyattsville around 6:30 p.m. on March 25.
The suspects arrested by Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit on Wednesday are both 16-year-old brothers from Northeast, D.C. They are charged with 1st and 2nd-degree murder, among other charges, police said. They are charged as adults.
The twins are Jabree Mekhi Hawkins and Jamel Hawkins, according to court records in the case. Jabree Hawkins is charged with shooting and killing Dockery. Brother Jamel was charged after he allegedly "aided and fled" the scene.
D.C. police officers have had "numerous contacts with both suspects" according to charges filed by Prince George's County investigators.
"Several officers with the Metropolitan Police Department identified the two suspects," according to the charges.
Prince George's investigators wrote in court documents that they were able to isolate still photos of the twins from security cameras deployed at the Mall.
The photos were shown to Metropolitan Police who made the identifications and assisted with the arrests of the boys, according to the court records.
Detectives preliminarily said they did not believe this was a random crime and on Wednesday said initially they believe the fatal shooting may have stemmed from a dispute between two groups inside the "Last Stop" store in the mall.
A group, including Daquan, followed the twins and two others out into the Mall where words were exchanged and gunfire erupted. Daquan "retreated into the store while also firing a handgun before collapsing," investigators wrote in court documents.
Police say the twins ran out of the mall, entered another business through the parking lot, hid in the bathroom briefly, split up, then met again in one of the mall stores before running away together.
Daquan's mother, Elizabeth Dockery, said she didn't know the boys charged or if her son knew them.
“When I heard [of the arrests] I just had a little relief but still like I tell people, it’s not like my son will be here to hear his voice or anything," Elizabeth Dockery said. "I will just have memories of him in my heart. Just keep them in my heart.”
Elizabeth Dockery said Daquan was a hard-working young man who dreamed of being an entrepreneur and recently started his own clothing line. She said he was the kind of son who contributed to bills and groceries and tried to help his mother however he could.
“We have our little talks, mother and son talks you know, I’m going to miss that from him. I’m going to miss him," Elizabeth Dockery said.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call 301-516-2512. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) Refer to case 22-0014468.