A 22-year-old assisted residing worker accused of disguising himself in lengthy feminine wigs and executing an 87-year-old millionaire philanthropist he handled nightly, is now additionally charged with taking pictures at a Maryland state trooper Tuesday whereas on the run.
The Montgomery County Division of Police’s Main Crimes Division confirmed throughout a information convention on Wednesday that Marquis Emilio James, 22, of White Marsh, Maryland, was arrested in reference to the Valentine’s Day murder of 87-year-old Robert G. Fuller Jr. on the Cogir Potomac Senior Dwelling Facility, and the taking pictures of a Maryland State Police trooper Tuesday throughout a visitors cease in West Baltimore.
James, who had been employed as a drugs technician on the senior residing facility since October, was allegedly seen on surveillance footage coming into and exiting by way of a tampered courtyard door across the time Fuller was fatally shot within the head in his residence.
Nothing appeared to have been taken from Fuller’s residence through the crime, in line with Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada.
Investigators later decided the door’s alarm sensor had been disabled in January — on a day when James had been the one particular person seen utilizing the door.
Throughout a search, folded paper towels used to prop doorways open on the day of the homicide and once more days later, have been discovered by police.
Yamada stated that days after Fuller’s dying, James was discovered inside the ability after his shift ended, gave a suspicious rationalization to different staff, triggered one other exterior door alarm, and fled when a supervisor was going to be notified.
The door he used to exit had additionally been tampered with, in line with authorities.
At about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, a Maryland State Police trooper pulled over James’ automobile to conduct a visitors cease after noticing he was lacking license plates.
Because the trooper approached the automobile, James, who was driving, instantly opened the automobile door and fired two photographs, stated Maryland State Police Lt. Col. Steve Decerbo.
The bullets narrowly missed the trooper by inches, and he solely sustained minor accidents.
“Surely, our Maryland State trooper escaped an consequence that might have ended a lot in another way,” Decerbo stated.
James instantly drove away, and investigators later recovered a shell casing from the scene that matched ballistic proof from Fuller’s homicide, linking the 2 instances.
Montgomery County Police, Maryland State Police and the US Marshals took James into custody Wednesday afternoon in Rockville after a quick foot chase.
James is charged in Montgomery County with first-degree homicide, which carries a most penalty of life in jail.
He’s being held with out bond, with a court docket listening to scheduled.
Whereas conducting two search warrants in Baltimore County, investigators recovered “quite a few” wigs and a masks, according to what seemed to be a disguise in surveillance footage.
Police initially stated there was no clear description of the particular person’s gender or race, including the suspect seen within the footage could possibly be male or feminine as a result of lengthy wig.
Yamada added police “shouldn’t have sense of why” James allegedly shot and killed Fuller.
“Upon talking with him, he stated their relationship was superb, and he would by no means have damage Mr. Fuller,” he stated. “So we’re hopeful that as we get additional in … we’re going to get a greater sense of what was happening behind the scenes, what varieties of communications Marquis James had, [and] what he was looking on his digital gadgets. We’re hopeful that that’s going to steer us to a greater sense of why.”
Yamada wouldn’t affirm if James had a felony document.
Maine State Rep. Invoice Bridgeo, who met Fuller whereas working as metropolis supervisor in Augusta, instructed NBC 4 Washington Fuller was a distinguished legal professional and a retired Navy Reserve officer.
Bridgeo instructed the native station Fuller donated tens of millions to the neighborhood to construct a brand new YMCA, hospital and broaden a highschool.
