Donte Avery Tiller, known to some as "2 Tay" or "Big Bank Hank," was a 43-year-old Black man living in Washington, D.C. His life was abruptly and violently ended in March 2023, adding his name to a list of homicide victims during a year that saw a significant increase in violence in the nation's capital.
The fatal encounter occurred on the afternoon of Friday, March 17, 2023. At about 2:05 p.m., officers from the Metropolitan Police Department's Seventh District were dispatched to the intersection of Naylor Road and Southern Avenue, Southeast, following a report of a shooting. This busy crossroads marks the boundary between Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland. Upon arrival, police found Donte Tiller inside a vehicle, suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
Emergency medical personnel were quickly on the scene, providing immediate aid before rushing Tiller to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
For nine days, he fought for his life, but the wounds proved too severe. On Sunday, March 26, 2023, Donte Tiller was pronounced dead. His death was officially classified as a homicide, prompting a full investigation by the MPD's Homicide Branch.
In the initial stages of the investigation, detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the daylight shooting. They appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a suspect, offering a reward of up to $25,000 for tips that resulted in the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Tiller's death. For months, the case remained under active investigation as his family and community awaited answers.
A significant development came nearly four months later. On Wednesday, July 5, 2023, the MPD announced an arrest. Acting on a D.C. Superior Court arrest warrant, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force located and apprehended 30-year-old Terrance Stoney of Fort Washington, Maryland. Stoney was charged with Second Degree Murder while Armed in connection with Donte Tiller's death.
Following his arrest, Terrance Stoney was presented in D.C. Superior Court. In a hearing on October 27, 2023, a judge found probable cause to continue with the case, meaning there was sufficient evidence to believe Stoney had committed the crime. The judge ordered that Stoney remain held in custody without bond pending further court proceedings. The case was scheduled for a felony status conference on January 12, 2024, to determine the next steps in the legal process.
The loss of Donte Tiller was a tragedy felt deeply by those who knew him. His death is a somber reminder of the broader context of violence in the District, which experienced one of its deadliest years in over two decades in 2023. As the criminal case against the accused proceeds through the justice system, those who mourn Donte Tiller continue to seek closure. The investigation remains open, and police continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward. The Metropolitan Police Department can be reached at 202-727-9099, and anonymous tips can be sent via text message to the department's TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.
