A medication technician at the Cogir of Potomac senior living facility is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 87-year-old Robert Fuller Jr., who was found dead in his apartment on Feb. 14, with a gunshot wound to his head.
In addition, Maurquise Emillo James, 22, of White Marsh, is charged with the attempted first-degree murder of a Maryland State Police trooper and other charges stemming from a Tuesday traffic stop.
Additional charges against James include felony assault and using a firearm during a crime of violence.
James is charged in the death of Fuller, a millionaire philanthropist. Fuller, a former lawyer, had helped establish a transitional housing facility in Maine for women who are veterans.
At this moment, the motive of the killing is unclear.
Maryland State Police said a trooper attempted to pull over James’ 2009 Infiniti G37 at around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday in Baltimore. At a stop sign, as the trooper approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, police said James opened his door and fired two shots at the trooper, before taking off.
Police said the trooper didn’t return fire. He was wounded in the shooting and later released from the hospital.
According to charging documents, testing showed a bullet casing found at the apartment matched the gun used to fire at the trooper Tuesday.
James was arrested in Montgomery County, where he’s being held without bond.
What led investigators to James
Montgomery County police were called to the senior living facility in the 10800 block of Potomac Tennis Lane at around 7:30 a.m. on Valentine’s Day for a reported medical emergency.
That’s when they found Fuller dead inside of the apartment he shared with his partner, who lives in another bedroom.
Investigators said James resembles the person seen on surveillance footage released by Montgomery County police Friday.
The person was only captured from behind, so police initially said they couldn’t make out the person’s gender and race.
But employees said James has worn a similar plaid jacket to the one seen in the video while at work, according to charging documents.
On the surveillance video, a masked person is seen walking up toward the door, which immediately opens.
It’s a side entrance that isn’t often used, even by employees, according to the facility’s director.
Police found a paper towel that was apparently put there to prop the door open.
A sensor on the door wasn’t working the night of the killing. Police said James was the last person to set it off, on Jan. 9, before a battery was apparently removed.
That sensor was reset after the homicide.
More than a week after the shooting, another employee contacted police after an incident involving the same door. James had stuck around past the end of his shift, and the door’s sensor set off an alarm early Monday.
James denied setting the sensor off, according to charging documents.
Other employees told James they needed to contact a supervisor about what was happening — and he left.
Employees who went to check on the situation said a black napkin was propping the door open and a folded paper towel was nearby. The battery had been reversed so the sensor wasn’t working anymore.
James administers medication to residents as part of his job at the senior living facility.
Fuller’s partner said an employee — later identified as James — came by on Feb. 13 to administer her regular dose of Oxycodone. He then came back to ask whether the medication had kicked in, which Fuller’s partner said was unusual.
His partner told investigators they didn’t understand how the sound of the shooting didn’t wake them, and noted they have excellent hearing.
James told investigators he had administered to Fuller as well, the night before the killing, according to charging documents.
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