OXON HILL, MD — December 4, 2025

The PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT has arrested a 22-year-old Maryland man in connection with a fatal shooting inside the MGM National Harbor hotel-casino’s food-court area, stating that surveillance footage captured the incident and showed the gunfire was a targeted act of violence. Police identified the suspect as Benjamin Williams, of Fort Washington, and said he was taken into custody early Thursday morning in College Park after an overnight search involving multiple investigative units. According to police, the arrest occurred without incident following coordinated efforts to locate Williams soon after the shooting.

Police stated that officers were dispatched to MGM National Harbor at approximately 11:55 a.m. Wednesday after receiving reports of shots fired in the food-court area. Responding officers found 23-year-old Darnell Hawkins Jr. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Hawkins was treated at the scene before being pronounced dead. Law enforcement also confirmed that a second individual sustained a grazing wound consistent with a round passing close by. Officers secured the area while homicide detectives, forensic specialists, and crime-scene personnel collected evidence, reviewed camera angles, photographed the interior, and interviewed individuals who were present during the incident.

According to PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY POLICE, internal casino surveillance footage showed Williams chasing Hawkins through the food-court area before firing multiple rounds. Police stated the footage captured Williams continuing to shoot after the victim fell and that detectives concluded the shooting was targeted rather than random. Investigators also said preliminary findings indicate that Williams and Hawkins knew one another prior to the incident, though the events leading up to the confrontation remain under review.

Following Williams’s arrest, CHARGING DOCUMENTS filed with Prince George’s County authorities list counts including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and multiple related weapons charges under Maryland law. Police said the charging documents reflect evidence gathered during the initial stages of the investigation, including witness accounts, surveillance recordings, and physical evidence recovered from the scene.

The PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT stated that detectives are continuing to analyze surveillance recordings, review ballistic materials, and conduct additional witness interviews. Investigators are also working to determine the nature of the relationship between Williams and Hawkins and whether any prior conflict contributed to the incident. Police added that MGM National Harbor has cooperated fully with the investigation by providing access to surveillance systems and assisting officers with securing the scene. Authorities said further updates will be released as the investigation continues.

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Sources

Primary First-Hand Sources

• PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT — Public statements regarding shooting, investigation, surveillance footage, and arrest
• PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY CHARGING DOCUMENTS — Filed Thursday detailing charges and evidence basis
• LAW ENFORCEMENT STATEMENTS — Descriptions of surveillance footage and investigative findings