Posted on: June 7, 2024, 10:25h.
Last updated on: June 7, 2024, 10:56h.
Authorities struggling to find the gunman accused in last month’s death of a man at Maryland’s MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino are now offering a cash reward.
A tip that leads to the shooter’s arrest and indictment will lead to a $25K payment to the informant.
Suspect Identified
The suspect is identified as Dayon Neal, 26, whose recent address is unknown. He’s being sought on first- and second-degree murder charges, as well as other counts. If arrested and convicted, he could face decades in prison.
Neal allegedly shot Daniel Antonio Thomas on May 11 in the parking garage at MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino. The 37-year-old Washington, DC resident died in the garage from his wounds.
The investigation is being led by the Prince George’s County Police Department. The department’s Homicide Unit is offering the reward.
Detectives didn’t say how they identified Neal as the suspect, though it’s likely officers reviewed surveillance video from the casino complex and searched the gaming property for witnesses and physical evidence. Detectives have yet to release a motive in the deadly shooting.
It’s unknown if it was a targeted killing or if it was a random act of violence. It’s also unknown if the victim was robbed at the time of the shooting.
MGM National Harbor is located across the Potomac River from Alexandria, Va., and is within two miles of Washington, DC.
No information was released on Neal’s possible whereabouts, and detectives didn’t reveal if they are targeting just Maryland or Washington, DC, or if they’ve expanded their search to other regions.
Rash of Crime
As the murder investigation proceeds, Prince George’s County continues to deal with a rash of elevated crime in the area around National Harbor.
In late April, the county instituted a weekend curfew for persons 16 years of age and younger without adult supervision. The order requires any unsupervised person aged 16 and under to be off the National Harbor confines between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights due to concerns about large groups of juveniles and minors engaging in disorderly conduct, shoplifting, and vandalism.
National Harbor businesses have suffered property damage and loss, and residents and visitors have been negatively impacted, a county statement on the juvenile curfew stated.
