Desean Chapman’s existence in the community won’t be missed as the ex-con pleaded guilty to armed robbery and using the credit card taken at gunpoint from his victim.
MURDER USA Spat turns to splat; cops nab Divonte Gatling
for Gunning of Ex-Con Desean Chapman
FORESTVILLE, MD. – The Prince George’s County Police report that the Homicide Unit has arrested a man in connection with the July 27, 2016, homicide in Forestville. The suspect is 23-year-old Divonta Giovanni Gatling of 3236 Apt. 3, Minnesota Avenue in Southeast Washington, D.C.
Police say that at about 6:30 am, patrol officers were called to the 3200 block of Walters Lane for a shooting. The officers found the victim, 28-year-old Desean Chapman, with a gunshot wound to the upper body. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
The preliminary investigation reveals the suspect confronted the victim just prior to the fatal shooting. The victim and suspect are acquaintances. Gatling is charged with second-degree murder and assault. He’s in the custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.
Gatling was wanted for a theft and property destruction warrant from July 15, 2016, on charges also in Prince Georges County.
Multiple charges of domestic violence with ex-parte orders sought against him to prohibit his contact of any type with a victim were tossed by the District Court in Prince Georges County when the petitioner failed to appear for a hearing on March 21, 2016.
Prior to the current murder rap, Gatling had been gunning for a lower level crime.
On Nov. 15, 2012, he entered a guilty plea in a plea deal with Howard County States Attorney for theft of a vehicle. The deal allowed for Probation Before Judgement with nine days in jail and no fine. The taxpayers paid for his lawyer, Carol A. Hanson of the public defender’s office. Gatling’s crib at the time was in Oxon Hill, Md.
Desean Chapman’s existence in the community won’t be missed as the ex-con pleaded guilty to armed robbery and using the credit card taken at gunpoint from his victim. The Guilty plea was part of a deal with the Prince Georges County States Attorney that netted him credit for time already in jail and a sentence of ten years. The sentence was suspended letting him serve all but four years. Chapman went to the Maryland Prison system on June 3, 2010, and was later let out on probation in time to meeting Gatling’s gun.
Indicted for six counts of rape and false imprisonment in 2007, the charges were all dropped against Chapman when the State’s witness became unavailable.
Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to call the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (301) 772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com and submit a tip online