Man who killed McDonald’s worker at drive-thru sentenced to life

The man found guilty in January of killing a McDonald’s drive-thru employee in 2022 was sentenced Wednesday to life imprisonment plus 20 years.

Ja’Quan Dontremique Green appeared in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court in shackles for the sentencing. A jury had convicted him of one count of first-degree murder and a related firearms charge for shooting Britrain Marcelus Gray as he worked the drive-thru window at a McDonald’s in Gambrills.

Green, who was 20 at the time of the murder, mostly kept his eyes down during his sentencing hearing. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Morris did not impose a sentence without the possibility of parole, meaning Green could be released one day.

The murder occurred shortly before 5 a.m. May 13, 2022, at the McDonald’s at 1130 Crain Highway South.

Police responded to a call that an employee had been shot and found Gray suffering from a gunshot wound. The 23-year-old Odenton man was declared dead on the scene.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video that showed a black sedan with no tags and blacked-out windows park near the restaurant. Then the video showed a suspect walk up to the drive-thru window and fire three shots “at close range as the victim was working inside,” prosecutors said.

Green, of Middle River, was arrested July 7, 2022, for an unrelated offense in Prince George’s County. He had a handgun, which was seized and examined.

Investigators determined the handgun was used to fire the three shots at the Gambrills McDonald’s, and Green’s vehicle had a decal on it that “corresponded to” one that was on the vehicle from the surveillance footage, prosecutors said.

In court Wednesday, prosecutors said there was either no motive for the killing or there was one that was “flat-out stupid.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Glen Neubauer said Gray may have been in a video made by a relative that appeared on social media that made fun of someone Green knew or Green’s neighborhood.

Green maintained his innocence during the trial and his sentencing.

When he rose to read a statement to the judge, he said he did not want to “diminish” the loss that Gray’s family felt. But he asked for the possibility of parole and said he would work to better himself.

“Respectfully, I cannot take responsibility for something I did not do,” Green said.

Before Green spoke, prosecutors read victim impact statements from family members. They called the pain of losing their younger brother “immeasurable” and described him as a key member of the family.

Charles Blackeney, Gray’s older brother, acted as a family spokesperson and was the only family member who spoke in court himself, rather than through the prosecution.

Blackeney said he remembers the phone call he received the morning Gray was killed.

“Time is split. Before the phone call, my brother was alive,” Blackeney said. But now, he said, “time is measured differently.”

He said Gray and Green did not know each other. He spoke at length about his brother’s life and his future that was snuffed out.

Blackeney said he remembers helping take care of Gray, changing his diapers and taking him to school. To be in court discussing a sentencing for his brother’s murder felt “senseless.”

“That’s just painful. That’s just painful,” Blackeney said.

Green’s attorney, Michele Vignola, said Green’s father and other family members were in court. She said Green grew up in difficult circumstances, including experiencing homelessness and sexual abuse.

“He heard gunshots on the regular,” Vignola said.

She asked the judge for the possibility of parole so that Green could have some “glimmer” of hope.

She called life without parole “essentially a death sentence” and referred to Green as “a child” when he killed Gray.

Morris said offering the possibility of parole was appropriate so that Green could “try to earn” his way to some form of redemption.

Speaking after the sentencing, Blackeney called a life sentence “justified” and said the family was satisfied and ready to continue the healing process.

“Justice was served,” he said.

But Green showed “no remorse,” said Blackeney, calling Green’s remarks in court “empty speech.”

The family said Gray was filled with joy, with a contagious laugh and smile. They said he was hardworking and “a solid rock” to the family.

“There’s not a moment, period of time, that you can’t think about your sibling that you grew up with,” Blackeney said. “So we’re going to continue to think about him.”