Diallo Roberts

A fun-loving man who was always the life of the party, Diallo Basil Roberts was a cherished son, brother, uncle, and friend. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 2, 1979, the 36-year-old Black man was known for his love of life, which he embraced with full gusto. His family and friends remembered him as someone you could always count on, an entertaining storyteller who was respected by his cousins and adored by his nieces and nephews, who knew him affectionately as "Uncle Dee."

Diallo’s kindness extended to everyone he met. He had a special love for children and the elderly, and the neighborhood kids were drawn to him because of the genuine interest he showed in their lives. He would often treat them to ice cream and even accompanied his friends' children on class trips when their parents couldn't attend. Shortly before his death, he had enjoyed taking his nieces, nephews, and several friends' children to the movies. A lifelong Baltimore resident, Diallo attended St. Cecelia Catholic School and Baltimore City College before graduating from Woodlawn Sr. High School. He later earned several certifications from the Community College of Baltimore County and built a career in public service and care.

Over the years, Diallo worked as a mail and file clerk for the Social Security Administration, a legal clerk in a law office, and an intake clerk for the Howard County Public Defender's Office. At the time of his death, he was working as a Direct Care Worker at the Dundalk Homeless Shelter, a role that reflected his compassionate nature. Beyond his work, Diallo had a unique interest in reptiles and was known to have kept several varieties as pets throughout his life.

The life of this beloved man was cut short on Thursday, February 25, 2016. On that day, Diallo Roberts was found inside a residence in the 2500 block of West Lanvale Street in West Baltimore. He had been fatally shot in the head. The discovery left his family and community devastated, mourning a man who lived his life to the fullest but whose end came through an act of violence.

The Baltimore Police Department opened a homicide investigation into Diallo's death. However, in the years that have followed, public information regarding the circumstances of the shooting has been scarce. Details about what led to the incident, who discovered him, or what evidence may have been recovered from the scene have not been released. The investigation remains open, but no suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

Diallo’s family laid him to rest after a funeral service at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church on March 5, 2016. He leaves to cherish his memory his mother, father, step-father, four brothers, two sisters, grandmother, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, as well as a special friend and her son, whom he considered an adopted son. His death remains an unresolved sorrow for his loved ones and a cold case for the city of Baltimore. As of early 2024, the case remains unsolved, a painful and unanswered chapter for a family still waiting for justice.