Do you know who murdered Richard \Ricky\ Anthony Karis in 2005?
Richard Anthony “Ricky” Karis was a man on the cusp of a new and exciting chapter in his life. At 30 years old, the white male was a Journeyman Electrician who had recently purchased his first home in Maryland and was busy remodeling it. He and his sweetheart, Rita LaPrince, were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child, a son. Ricky was an adored son to his parents, Deborah Rose Pilkerton and Clarence Vernon Karis, Jr., and a beloved brother to his siblings, Destiny and Shawn. Remembered by his mother as a huge football fan, he had grown up playing for the Landover Hills Boys and Girls Club before playing for his high school team at Archbishop Carroll High School. As an adult, he gave back to his community by serving as a volunteer coach at his alma mater and was a man of devout faith who regularly attended Mass.
In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, November 12, 2005, Ricky’s promising future was violently extinguished. He and a friend were on their way to Washington, D.C., when they made a stop at a convenience store in Landover, Maryland, not far from where Ricky had grown up. At approximately 2:00 a.m., their vehicle pulled into the parking lot in the 4600 block of 68th Avenue. Ricky remained in the passenger seat, asleep, while his friend went inside the store to make a purchase. The stop turned into a scene of inexplicable violence when, as the friend returned to the car, he was shot in the back.
When the friend regained consciousness, he made a devastating discovery. Ricky was no longer in the car but was lying in the parking lot, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, but his injuries were too severe. Richard Karis was pronounced dead in the parking lot. The sudden and brutal attack left a family shattered and a community in shock, searching for answers.
The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit launched an immediate investigation into the killing. Detectives learned that there were multiple witnesses in the area at the time of the shooting. Despite this, investigators have struggled to identify a suspect or establish a clear motive for the ambush. In the years that followed, Ricky's mother would state that the police "hit a brick wall almost from the beginning." With no apparent reason for the attack, the case grew cold, compounding the family's grief with unanswered questions.
The loss was felt deeply by Ricky's extensive network of family and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Landover Hills, followed by his interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The most heartbreaking consequence of the murder came five months later, with the birth of his son, Richard Anthony Karis, Jr., a child who would only know his father through pictures and stories. A memorial fund was established to support the son Ricky never had the chance to meet.
Years have passed, but the search for justice has never ended. Ricky's family has continued to advocate for his case, hoping that new information will emerge. In 2015, his mother started an online petition to request that the police department seek assistance from outside cold case specialists. She wrote, "Ricky was no Angel, but was well loved by his Family, Friends, and Community and for his murder to go unsolved because of lack of funding and possibly pride on the part of the Police Department is unconscionable."
As of June 2017, the homicide of Richard Karis remains an open and unsolved case. Prince George’s County Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward of up to $25,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for his death. Investigators urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Tips can be directed to the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (301) 772-4925. To remain anonymous, callers can contact the Crime Solvers tip line at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text “PGPD” plus the message to CRIMES (274637), or submit a tip online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com.
