Two charged in ‘very disturbing’ Maryland killings
Aug 8th, 2010 by Bilal Ali
Two people were charged Saturday in “very disturbing” drug-related
killings of two young children and two adult relatives outside
Washington D.C.
Darrell Lynn Bellard, 43, of Dickinson, Texas,
and Tkeisha Nicole Gilmer, 18, of Texas City, Texas were taken into
custody Friday and charged with first-degree murder, police in Prince
George’s County, Maryland, told CNN. More charges are being considered.
The
incident took place Friday at a debris-filled living space in Lanham,
Maryland, a crime scene that Police Chief Roberto Hylton described as
“horrific.”
The victims have been identified Shayla Shante, 3,
and Shakur Sylvester Sikyala, 4, both slain along with their mother,
Dawn Yvette Brooks, 38, and their aunt, Mwasiti Sikyala, 41. Police said
some of the victims may have been Congolese.
Hylton told CNN Saturday that the suspects and the victims were part
of a “drug sales relationship and something went wrong.” Police said
they were selling marijuana.
“They were executed. They were shot
multiple times” and the manner in which the children were slaim was
“very disturbing,” Hylton said.
Hylton specified that Ballard was assisted by Gilmer.
“If any case screams for justice, it is this case. I’m hopeful that justice will be served,” he said.
Details about the crime scene emerged Friday.
Police
described a living space above a house’s garage that had no running
water, air-conditioning or toilets, and was strewn with trash and
containers of feces.
Officers had been given specialized outfits and equipment to help clear the debris.
“No human being should have been living” there, Hylton said on Friday.