On the night of April 20, 2017, 23-year-old Deontre’ L. Bailey was shot and killed on Fourth Street in Pocomoke City, Maryland. He had been among several people gathered on a front porch when an argument began; that dispute reportedly started after Bailey threw a bottle that struck 26-year-old Darryl K. Wise Jr. in the upper torso. The argument escalated and Wise allegedly shot Bailey with a handgun. Bailey was found in the street with an apparent gunshot wound to his upper torso and was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, where he was pronounced dead later that night.

The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigated and an arrest warrant was issued for Wise, a Pocomoke City resident, on counts including first- and second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, first- and second-degree assault, and handgun violations. Wise was located and arrested the next morning by the Maryland State Apprehension Team and taken into custody. The case was later moved to Worcester County Circuit Court and scheduled for jury trial; the charges carried the possibility of a life sentence.