Two DC Men In Custody For Murder at Laurel Hotel

Laurel, MD — Two Washington, DC men are now in custody on murder charges for allegedly killing a Landover Hills man during an armed robbery at a Laurel hotel, authorities say.

Anne Arundel County Police say Dalan Plummer, 19, of Landover Hills, died July 3 at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Hospital from a gunshot wound. Plummer was found by police after a shooting was reported June 25 at the Knights Inn, 3380 Laurel Fort Meade Road in Laurel.

Detectives say two black men – one carrying a handgun -- approached Plummer at the hotel, and one suspect shot him in the upper body. Investigators shared video that purportedly showed the suspected shooters at the McDonald’s restaurant at 3418 Laurel Fort Meade Road in Laurel shortly before the fatal shooting, and at the Exxon Gas station at 3384 Laurel Fort Meade Road in Laurel.

Tips from the public then led police to identify the suspected shooters as Brandon Anthony Holmes, 28, from the 5000 block of Kansas Avenue NW, Washington D.C., and Malachi Tavon Ellis, 18, from the 200 block of Emerson Street NW, Washington D.C.

The United States Marshal’s Task Force tracked Holmes to the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue, in Northeast D.C., where he was arrested Monday, police say. He is currently in custody in Washington D.C. awaiting extradition to Anne Arundel County.

Holmes has been charged with: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of robbery, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of theft less than $1,000, two counts of reckless endangerment, and a firearm used in a crime of violence.

Ellis was arrested July 20 by Metropolitan Police officers and extradited to Anne Arundel County on July 22. He is currently being held at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center on a no-bond status.

Ellis is charged with: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, two counts of robbery, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, firearm used in a crime of violence, conspiracy to use a firearm in a crime of violence, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of theft less than $1,000, and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft less than $1,000.

Police ask anyone with information to call the Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731.
To share information and remain anonymous, contact the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line 410-222-4700 orMetro Crime Stoppers at 1-866- 7LOCKUP or text “MCS plus your message” to CRIMES (274637).
»Photo of Brandon Holmes courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police Department