The Maryland man convicted of a fatal stabbing at an Oxon Hill Popeyes restaurant in 2019 was sentenced Monday to 22 years in prison.
“It was a senseless death,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said after the sentencing.
Ricoh McClaine, 32, was convicted in April of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 27-year-old Kevin Davis.
The Nov. 4, 2019, stabbing drew national news coverage after police said it was sparked by an argument over cutting in line to order one of the fast food chain’s popular chicken sandwiches that had recently been put back on the menu.
Police said Davis apparently cut in line at the restaurant on Livingston Road, in Oxon Hill, leading to an argument that spilled outside the restaurant, where McClaine stabbed Davis.
“Deadly violence erupted in 15 seconds,” then-police chief Hank Stawinski said of the incident at the time.
Davis was rushed to a hospital, where he died. McClaine fled the restaurant and was arrested 10 days later. He was indicted in December 2019.
Davis’s mother and aunt provided victim impact statements during the sentencing hearing.
“You could see the pain in their eyes,” said Braveboy. “You know that this has really impacted their family.”
Braveboy said the victim’s mother showed grace toward her son’s killer.
“Kevin’s mother told the defendant today in court that she would pray for him,” Braveboy said. “She is going to pray every single day for him, and that she hopes he will be rehabilitated.”
Braveboy said the tragedy not only affected Davis’ family but McClaine’s, “because he is a father; he is a husband, and he is a son.”
None of the 22-year sentence was suspended; McClaine will be eligible for parole after 11 years.
Braveboy echoed Davis’ mother’s hopes: “We hope that he becomes rehabilitated, that he becomes remorseful for the pain and hurt that he caused, and that he will never engage in criminal activities again.”
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.
