Kanika Powell was a driven individual who embraced life to its fullest. She wanted to work in national security because she was a former soldier.
At age 28, she was brutally killed in front of her department. Please read on to find out more about her murder, the investigation, and other details.
Who Was Kanika Powell?
In the year 1980, on January 31st, Kanika Powell was born. After graduating from Largo High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Kanika enlisted in the Army, stunning her family and friends.
Kanika was a boisterous and argumentative toddler who later developed into an ambitious young woman, according to her mother Judy.
Kanika’s mother concurs that she is a driven young woman.
The reason Kanika was so determined to join the military remains a mystery to her family. She enlisted in the Army in 2000 and served there for a while.
Throughout her service, Kanika was in regular contact with her family.
In 2004, Kanika retired from the military and returned to her home in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Soon after she got back home, she was contractually hired by the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.
Since these labs are concerned with homeland security projects, it is unclear exactly what they do.
Kanika had always wanted to work in national security, so beginning this new chapter in her life was a dream come true.
What Happened to Kanika Powell?
Despite Kanika’s best efforts to convince herself that the men at her house were con artists, four days later, on Wednesday, August 27, another person knocked on her door. She spoke to him through the door.
She identified herself as Kanika Powell when he asked if she was, at which point he said he had a package for her but had to go get it.
But he never made it back. Kanika was convinced she was the victim of a crime when three strangers visited her home in the space of a week.
Twelve hours later, Kanika received a visit from yet another strange man. Judy stated that Kanika called her on August 28, 2008, early in the morning to let her know that a second man had arrived at her home.
Judy said that her daughter called her at around 7:30 in the morning. Kanika allegedly said, “Who delivers a package at 7:30 am?” Kanika was speaking while trembling, Judy remembered, but she was unable to tell if she was in danger.
Kanika called the police once more after that early morning knock; the officers showed there but found nothing.
Kanika told her mom she was going to take the day off. The following day, she planned to leave the city.
She tried to depart early because she didn’t want to run about in the dark due to what was happening. She planned to complete everything and leave early for home.
Judy had no idea that their conversation would be their last as she hung up with Kanika.
Kanika Powell Murder
When Kanika arrived home just before noon, she had no idea what to anticipate. The culprit allegedly waited until Kanika arrived home, according to the police.
First reports of gunfire were received by 911 operators around 11:50 a.m.
When police and EMS came, they discovered Kanika suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was in the hallway, unconscious.
She was still breathing, but she was also unconscious and barely holding on to life. She was sent to a nearby hospital in an emergency.
The police informed Judy that Kanika had been shot that afternoon by phone call. It surprised me.
Murder Case Investigation
Investigators investigated into the situation after Kanika arrived at the hospital to ascertain what happened and why.
She was killed outside of her apartment, therefore the initial theory the police put up was robbery. Keys and a wallet were found nearby, eliminating the potential of theft.
Investigators struggled to identify a motive in the hours that followed Kanika’s death. They were only aware that Kanika had been shot with a handgun, and that was it.
Additionally, they believed that the shooter was waiting for her in the doorway.
Kanika was conscious when she arrived at the hospital, but she never regained it. She was shot on August 28 and died from her injuries the next day, on August 29.
It’s possible that neither a hitman nor Kanika’s line of work killed her. Investigators were unable to find a promising lead, which raises the possibility that it was an arbitrary, senseless act of violence.
Kanika was assassinated outside her apartment 14 years ago. However, it’s not clear if the probe is still active. The cause of Kanika’s death is still unknown.
