A 30-year-old man has been charged with murder in the case of the 28-year-old man who was stabbed to death at a Maryland Popeyes last week, after he cut the line for their chicken sandwich.
Police released the name of suspect, Ricoh McClain, who was pictured on surveillance camera at the time of the incident last Monday.
But he had still not been detained and they asked the public to help locate the man who is believed to have killed Kevin Tyrell Davis.
McClain is considered armed and dangerous and faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment.
Ricoh McClain (left), 30, was named as the suspect in the stabbing death of Maryland Popeyes customer Kevin Tyrell Davis (right), 28, on Tuesday evening
The Oxon Hill Popeyes restaurant where the incident occurred last Monday is located at 247 Livingston Rd. in Maryland
A warrant is out for his arrest and police believe he’s still in the area based on information from the public and authorities.
Jennifer Donelan, a spokeswoman for the Prince George’s County Police Department, said it was an officer who first identified the suspect, claiming to recognize him from interactions he’d had with him on the street several times.
It was followed by a number of phone calls from the public ‘backing up the assertion’.
On Tuesday, the Prince George’s County Police Department said: ‘The preliminary investigation reveals McClain and the victim got into a brief verbal argument after the victim cut in front of several customers waiting to order food.
‘They both then got out of the line, walked out of the front door together and McClain immediately stabbed Davis. McClain then fled from the area.’
Davis entered the fast food joint on the 6200 block of Livingston Road around 7pm on November 4 where about three dozen people were in line, many waiting for the newly released chicken sandwich, Police Chief Hank Stawinski said.
Davis then cut the line and was confronted by a male suspect. The two exchanged words and the argument escalated to the point that the two went outside the restaurant and Davis was stabbed. Cops say the entire confrontation lasted just 15 seconds.
Police revealed that officers arrived to the fast food chain and found Davis in the parking lot with a single stab wound.
They applied lifesaving measures to Davis. He was rushed to the hospital and died from his wound 51 minutes later.
Prince George County Police previously released a surveillance photo of McClain, pleading for the public in identifying him.
Police asked for help identifying a woman he appeared to be with who fled the parking lot with McClain. They eventually interviewed her and said she was not facing charges at this point but is considered a witness.
Wanted: Prince George County Police previously released this photo McClain pictured above in surveillance footage from the restaurant
Close-up: Police released surveillance stills of the stabbing suspect (left) and a woman he was with (right), pleading for help in identifying either of them
Police said Tuesday that McClain’s last known address was on the 5500 block of Marlboro Pike in District Heights. McClain is believed to have previous addresses in Washington and Maryland.
Cops said at a press conference that the suspect used ‘some kind of cutting instrument that we know he’s used in violence in the past’.
‘Something we have to question in terms of how we’re interacting with one another as a society, is how does a confrontation over cutting line lead to a death,’ Stawinski said.
‘People are asking how something so pointless could occur,’ he added. ‘This is pointless, this is disrespectful and that’s why I’m asking for the community’s help.’
He said the attack took place in front of families and children, adding there was no reason to believe the fight extended beyond the restaurant.
The Police Chief said a knife was recovered from the scene.
A cop first identified McClain as the suspect, claiming to recognize him from interactions he’d had with him on the street. Police Chief Hank Stawinski (pictured) last week said: ‘This is pointless, this is disrespectful and that’s why I’m asking for the community’s help’
The stabbing incident took place at a Popeyes restaurant located in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Police said that Davis entered the restaurant around 7pm and cut the line, inciting the confrontation. There were about three dozen people in the restaurant at the time
This footage shows Maryland EMS on the scene taking the stabbing victim away on a stretcher
No transaction had taken place when the two men got into the fight.
Tributes have poured in for Davis, who was known as Oside KD by his friends.
‘I failed you. I’m sorry #longlive KD,’ one friend shared on Instagram.
‘LongLiveKD Another Bro From the Lawd. Senseless…’ another friend added.
The next day, his friends returned to the Oxon Hill Popeyes restaurant location to lay out candles that spelled his name and lay flowers as a makeshift memorial.
Friends of Davis say the fight was not over a chicken sandwich but did not elaborate.
The harrowing attack unfolded in the midst of the Popeyes chicken sandwich craze, which has incited brawls in other restaurants across the nations as the popular burger attracts long lines and busy wait times.
A friend shared this tribute sharing a picture of Davis with his brother (center)
Family and friends created a makeshift memorial for KD outside the Popeyes restaurant
The sandwich was first introduced in August and sold out in two weeks. The crispy sandwich returned to menus across the nation November 3, reigniting the frenzy.
In the Maryland Popeyes attack, one eyewitness described how a ‘dude cut the line’ before they ‘went outside’ and ‘dude got stabbed’, adding: ‘And now we can’t leave because they have to make sure there is no blood on the road.’
A representative for Popeyes told DailyMail.com last week: ‘What happened in Maryland last night is a tragedy and we are saddened to hear about this senseless act of violence.’
‘Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends. We, along with the franchisee, are fully cooperating with local authorities and actively working to gather more information,’ the chain added.
A reward of $25,000 is being offered for any information that leads to his arrest.
If anyone knows McCain’s whereabouts or has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call 911 or detectives 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).