A 22-year-old employee at an assisted living facility has been arrested for the murder of an 87-year-old philanthropist and for shooting at a Maryland state trooper while on the run.
Marquis Emilio James, 22, of White Marsh, Maryland, was charged in connection with the Valentine’s Day homicide of Robert G. Fuller Jr. at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living Facility, as well as for shooting at a Maryland State Police trooper during a traffic stop in West Baltimore.
James, who worked as a medication technician at the senior living facility, was captured on surveillance footage entering and leaving through a tampered courtyard door around the time Fuller was killed in his apartment.
No items were reported missing from Fuller’s home, according to Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada.
Investigators discovered that the door’s alarm sensor had been disabled in January, a day when James was the only person seen using the door.
During a search, authorities found folded paper towels used to prop doors open on the day of the murder and days later.
Yamada revealed that shortly after Fuller’s death, James was discovered inside the facility after his shift, gave a suspicious explanation to coworkers, set off another exterior door alarm, and fled when a supervisor was going to be notified.
The door he used to escape had also been tampered with, as per authorities.
On Tuesday at around 3:30 a.m., a Maryland State Police trooper pulled over James’ vehicle for a traffic stop after noticing missing license plates.
As the trooper approached the car, James, who was driving, suddenly opened the car door and fired two shots, said Maryland State Police Lt. Col. Steve Decerbo.
The trooper narrowly escaped the bullets and sustained minor injuries.
“Without a doubt, our Maryland State trooper escaped an outcome that could have ended much differently,” Decerbo said.
James immediately fled the scene, and investigators recovered a shell casing that matched ballistic evidence from Fuller’s murder, connecting the two incidents.
Montgomery County Police, Maryland State Police, and the US Marshals apprehended James in Rockville after a brief foot chase on Wednesday afternoon.
James faces first-degree murder charges in Montgomery County, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
He is currently in custody without bond, awaiting a court hearing.
During two search warrants in Baltimore County, investigators found “numerous” wigs and a mask, consistent with the disguise seen in surveillance footage.
Police initially said there was no clear description of the person’s gender or race, adding the suspect seen in the footage could be male or female due to the long wig.
Yamada mentioned that they are uncertain why James would have shot and killed Fuller.
“Upon speaking with him, he said their relationship was very good, and he would never have hurt Mr. Fuller,” Yamada stated. “So we’re hopeful that as we get further in … we’re going to get a better sense of what was going on behind the scenes, what types of communications Marquis James had, [and] what he was searching on his electronic devices. We’re hopeful that that’s going to lead us to a better sense of why.”
Yamada did not confirm whether James had a criminal record.
Maine State Rep. Bill Bridgeo, who knew Fuller, described him as a prominent attorney and retired Navy Reserve officer who made significant donations to the community.
Bridgeo mentioned that Fuller contributed millions to build a new YMCA, hospital, and expand a high school.
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