Additional Details Surrounding Murder That Occurred on Monday Night Near Crown

MCS Staff March 23, 2022 at 5:03pm

Today in the District Court for Montgomery County, MD, defendant DeMarco Rayford, 25, of Montgomery Village, was ordered held without bond. He is accused of stabbing and killing Deante Foreman. A preliminary hearing is set for April 15^th at 8:30 a.m.

Below you will see details of the incidents that occurred leading to Foreman’s death, per the charging documents (the documents state that Reprise Drive is in Gaithersburg, but Reprise Drive has a Rockville address, located just outside of Gaithersburg City limits).

On March 21, 2022, at approximately 2100 hours Montgomery County Police were dispatched to a possible shooting in the area of 10107 Reprise Drive Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, Maryland.

Upon arriving, responding officers were met by a subject later identified as DeMarco RAYFORD (b/m, DOB: 10/3/1996) who had a large tactical style knife in the waistband of his pants standing near a body in the parking lot. The body in the parking lot was subsequently identified as Deante FOREMAN (b/m, DOB: 02/20/2001. FOREMAN was suffering fiom obvious cutting/stab wounds and although life saving efforts were attempted, FOREMAN was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police located and collected an AR 15 pistol in the area of FOREMAN’s feet. RAYFORD was taken into custody and transported to police headquarters where he was advised of his rights and interviewed by your affiant. RAYFORD advised that he was sitting in a car, waiting for his girlfiiend to come out of her ex-boyfriend’s residence.

While waiting, RAYFORD said he heard a tap on the passenger window and observed a subject he quickly realized was FOREMAN at the window pointing a gun towards him. RAYFORD said he opened the door and FOREMAN made a comment about shooting him. RAYFORD further stated that FOREMAN moved his position to the front of the car and continued to make comments about shooting him. RAYFORD stated that FOREMAN then walked away from the car and went back into his residence. According to RAYFORD, FOREMAN continued to walk from inside the residence to the car another 25-30 times over the course of a brief period of time, but RAYFORD could not explain why he continued to sit in the car without soliciting help.

RAYFORD then stated that he “blacked out” and could not remember what happened beyond that. When asked about the large tactical knife, RAYFORD stated that he carries it on his person for protection and that he had it with him in the vehicle. RAYFORD did not provide any further details as to what precipitated his stabbing FOREMAN.

An interview with Natalie BENJUMEA (h/f, DOB: 02/10/2002) revealed that she and RAYFORD went to FOREMAN’s residence to retrieve some personal property and her daughter. Once at the residence, BENJUMEA advised she went inside, and RAYFORD stayed in the car. BENJUMEA advised that when she came outside to put some items in the car, she observed FOREMAN was sitting on the curb with a backpack and RAYFORD was sitting in the passenger seat of her vehicle. BENJUMEA asked for help putting something into her car and FOREMAN assisted. BENJUMEA advised FOREMAN had a backpack with him however, she did not observe a gun at that time. BENJUMEA went back into the residence to get her young child and while returning to the car she could see that the car door was open and RAYFORD and FOREMAN were facing each other – BENJUMEA was putting her child into a car seat and asked for help working the buckle, but FOREMAN refused, at which time she heard a clicking sound behind her and turned and observed that RAYFORD and FOREMAN were in aphysical altercation.

BENJUMEA heard FOREMAN screaming, “stop” and advised that she yelled for them to stop also — as she was trying to get her young child back into the residence. Once FOREMAN fell to the ground, BENJUMEA saw a gun on the ground and dark staining on the pavement that turned out to be blood from FOREMAN. BENJUMEA did not see FOREMAN with the gun but did advise that RAYFORD was trying to ignore FOREMAN’S attempt at verbal engagement.

Per the Montgomery County Police press release on March 22:

A 21-year-old male was killed following an altercation outside of his residence on Reprise Drive in Rockville. On Monday, March 21, at approximately 9 p.m., Montgomery County Police 6th District officers responded to the 10100 block of Reprise Drive for the report of a shooting that just occurred.

Upon arrival, officers located the adult male victim, Deonte Foreman, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Officers administered aid until Montgomery County Fire Rescue arrived, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

Officers identified the suspect, 26-year-old Demarco Rayford of Gaithersburg, who was arrested on scene. The Major Crimes Division, Homicide Section responded to the location, and during the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the victim and Rayford got into an argument, which escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in Rayford allegedly stabbing Foreman.