Robert Fuller Jr. — Elderly Philanthropist Fatally Shot

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Summary: Robert Fuller Jr., 87, was fatally shot in his apartment at a senior living facility in Potomac, Maryland, on February 14, 2026. Authorities arrested Maurquise Emillo James, 22, of Baltimore, charging him with first-degree murder in Fuller's death and attempted murder of a state trooper in a separate incident linked by ballistics evidence. The motive remains unclear, reports say.

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POTOMAC, Md. (DailyKenn.com) — Authorities have arrested a young caregiver in the Valentine's Day slaying of a prominent 87-year-old resident at an upscale assisted living community here, linking the case to a separate attack on a state trooper through ballistic evidence.

Maurquise Emillo James, 22, of Baltimore, faces first-degree murder charges in the death of Robert Fuller Jr., a retired lawyer and generous donor known for supporting causes in his native Maine. Police said James, who worked as a medication technician at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility since late last year, also stands accused of attempted first-degree murder, assault and firearm offenses stemming from a predawn confrontation with law enforcement.

The sequence of events began in early January when facility surveillance captured James near a side entrance where a door alarm sensor's battery was later found removed, disabling notifications, according to investigators. On the evening of February 13, James delivered medications to Fuller and his roommate as part of his routine duties but returned shortly after to inquire if a painkiller had taken effect—a move the roommate described to police as out of the ordinary and unsettling.

Early the next morning, around 7:30 a.m. on February 14, emergency responders arrived at the facility in the 10800 block of Potomac Tennis Lane following a call for medical aid. They discovered Fuller unresponsive in his apartment with a single gunshot wound to the head. He was declared dead on site, and autopsy results confirmed homicide. His roommate, asleep in an adjacent bedroom, reported hearing nothing unusual overnight and only learned of the tragedy upon waking.

Security footage reviewed by detectives showed a masked figure, clad in a plaid jacket and what appeared to be a wig, propping open the same side door with a paper towel before slipping inside via a stairwell and later fleeing on foot. No weapon was recovered from the scene, and nothing seemed stolen from the apartment.

Six days later, on February 20, police publicly shared clips of the suspect roaming the property, prompting tips from staff who recognized similarities to James, including his clothing. The breakthrough came on February 24 when a Maryland State Trooper pulled over James' silver Infiniti sedan in Baltimore for lacking tags. As the officer approached, James allegedly cracked the door and fired two shots, grazing the trooper with powder burns but causing no serious injury. The trooper did not return fire, and James sped away.

Ballistics tests matched shell casings from the trooper incident to the round that killed Fuller, solidifying the connection. Hours later, James was apprehended in Rockville while appearing for an unrelated traffic hearing. He attempted to run but was subdued by a task force including U.S. Marshals. Searches of properties tied to him in Baltimore County yielded items of interest, though a motive remains undetermined.

Residents at the facility voiced profound distress over the breach of safety in what they considered a secure haven. One employee, speaking anonymously, noted the alarm's tampering had raised internal flags but went unaddressed until the killing. In Maine, where Fuller had practiced law for decades and funded projects like library renovations, athletic fields and veteran housing, associates expressed disbelief. A close friend recalled Fuller's passion for baseball and community service, saying the loss felt especially cruel given his benevolent life. Officials emphasized the arrest averted potential further harm, restoring some calm to the shaken community.

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