In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Judge Christopher Fogleman sentenced Markus Dowdy to 42 years in prison for the 2023 shooting death of Marvin Jefferson and the wounding of a second victim at a carry-out restaurant in White Oak.
Dowdy, who was on probation at the time of the incident, was convicted in February 2025 of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, firearm offenses, and reckless endangerment.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “On February 28, 2025, Dowdy was convicted by a jury on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of use of firearm in a crime of violence, illegal possession of a firearm, and reckless endangerment for an incident that occurred on November 4, 2023. Dowdy shot and killed 34-year-old Marvin Jefferson and shot and wounded a second victim at a carry-out restaurant in the White Oak Shopping Center located in the 11200 block of New Hampshire Avenue. The incident was captured by surveillance cameras.
Video shows that Jefferson walked into the restaurant and approached the defendant. The defendant, who had a gun in his hand, then began chasing Jefferson and fired multiple shots. Jefferson was shot three times, and the other victim was shot once. Dowdy also pistol-whipped Jefferson while he was wounded on the ground. There were several other people inside of the carry-out restaurant at the time, and others immediately outside in the direction of the gunfire. The storefront glass was shattered but no other injuries were reported. Through the course of an investigation by Montgomery County Police, the State learned the defendant and victim were involved in an altercation the week prior and Jefferson had punched Dowdy. The State believes the shooting was retaliation for the prior altercation.
Dowdy had been on probation at the time for a 2022 conviction on charges of conspiring to promote a criminal organization and illegal possession of a regulated firearm. Assistant State’s Attorneys Kimberly Cissel and Gabriel Carrera prosecuted this case.”
