Caregiver Charged Over Fatal Shooting of 87-Year-Old Millionaire Philanthropist Inside Senior Living Facility in Md.

Robert Fuller, Jr. was found dead inside the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility in Potomac on Valentine's Day

NEED TO KNOW

• An employee at a senior living facility in Potomac, Maryland, has been arrested following the shooting death of an 87-year-old resident earlier this month
• Robert Fuller, Jr. was found dead inside an apartment at Cogir Potomac Senior Living on Feb. 14
• Maurquise Emillo James, 22, was arrested and charged on Tuesday, Feb. 24, police confirmed

An employee at a senior living facility in Maryland has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after a millionaire philanthropist was shot dead inside his apartment, police have confirmed.

On Saturday, Feb. 14 at approximately 7:34 a.m. local time, Montgomery County Department of Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel "responded to the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility in the 10800 block of Potomac Tennis Lane for a reported medical emergency," per a Wednesday, Feb. 25 news release shared by the Montgomery County Department of Police.

When first responders arrived, they discovered 87-year-old Robert Fuller, Jr. unresponsive inside his apartment, the release said, adding that the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police confirmed that 22-year-old Maurquise Emillo James, of Baltimore, had been arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and charged with first-degree murder. 

"James was an employee of the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility at the time of the shooting. A warrant for his arrest was obtained February 24," the release stated.

The suspect was a caregiver at the facility, according to NBC4 Washington. James, who goes by the name "Malquazy," worked as a medical technician who was responsible for giving Fuller, Jr. and other residents their medications, the outlet reported, citing court documents.

A Montgomery County Department of Police spokesperson added to PEOPLE in an email, "Yes, he was employed at the facility as a med tech, [and] had been there for a little over four months."

A Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility spokesperson did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment.

Police added in Wednesday's release, "Major Crimes detectives observed evidence on Fuller’s body and inside his bedroom consistent with a contact gunshot wound to the head. No firearm was found in the apartment. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later ruled his death a homicide."

"During the investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance video from the facility. The footage showed a person wearing a mask walking toward a side door of the building," the release continued, adding that "the suspect opened the door and entered the building, which led to a stairwell." 

The same person was then spotted leaving through that door and running down the sidewalk a short time later, police said.

"Detectives later determined the exterior door had been propped open and the alarm deactivated," the release noted.

The post said, "Detectives also obtained surveillance video from January showing James in the same stairwell area on the day a door alarm was deactivated. On February 20, the Media & Public Information Office released a video clip of the suspect walking in the courtyard area of the facility wearing a distinctive plaid jacket. The release generated tips that helped identify James."

A Maryland State Police trooper then conducted a traffic stop of a silver Infiniti sedan without tags in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the release stated, adding that the driver of the vehicle had fired at the trooper during the traffic stop. The officer was not seriously injured, the release noted.

Police said, "Evidence collected at that scene included at least one 9mm shell casing that was entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network. Detectives received a lead indicating the same gun was used in both the shooting of Fuller and the incident involving the trooper."

The release confirmed that Montgomery County Department of Police Task Force officers assigned to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force then arrested James in downtown Rockville later that day, after he attempted to run away from the officers. 

"Montgomery County and Maryland State Police investigators also executed two search warrants in Baltimore County. Detectives recovered items of potential evidentiary value from both locations," police said, adding that "James is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit pending a bond hearing."

The update comes after a Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility spokesperson said in an email to PEOPLE on Feb. 18 when asked about the death of Fuller, Jr., "We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our residents. Our thoughts are with the resident’s family and loved ones during this difficult time."

They added at the time, "An active investigation is currently being conducted by local law enforcement. We are fully cooperating with authorities and will continue to support their efforts in any way we can."

"Because this is an ongoing investigation and out of respect for the family’s privacy, we are unable to provide additional details at this time. The safety and well-being of our residents and team members remain our highest priority," the spokesperson continued.

WJLA's ABC 7 News previously reported that Fuller, Jr. was a millionaire who became known for his philanthropy after donating $1.64 million to upgrade a high school’s athletic field in Maine. He was also the descendant of the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Melvin Fuller, per the outlet.

Maine Rep. Bill Bridgeo was among those paying tribute to Fuller, Jr. following the news of his tragic death. The pair met while Bridgeo had been working as the city manager in Augusta, where Fuller, Jr. had spent a lot of his life, per NBC4 Washington.

He revealed Fuller, Jr. had been a prominent attorney, a retired Navy reserve officer and had even self-published a book, adding that he took pride in his work as a philanthropist, donating millions to help the community, per the outlet.

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Bridgeo added to PEOPLE in an email on Feb. 19, "Bob Fuller was a friend for decades. He was an iconic individual – a philanthropist, a retired senior naval officer, managing partner of Maine's largest law firm and accomplished historian."

"Many local charitable causes were the beneficiaries of his largesse including the regional hospital, the YMCA, the school system and the historical societies," he shared.

Bridgeo added of Fuller, Jr., "He will be deeply missed by his many friends in the Augusta community."

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