The millionaire philanthropist murdered in his Maryland senior living center was allegedly gunned down by a staffer who disguised himself as a woman — then shot at a state trooper who pulled him over.
Marquis Emilio James, 22, was arrested and charged with the Feb. 14 killing of 87-year-old Robert G. Fuller Jr. at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living Facility, the Montgomery County Department of Police announced Wednesday.
James, who worked at the facility as a medication technician since October, allegedly wore a wig and a mask before killing Fuller around 7:30 a.m.
Marquis Emilio James was arrested in connection to the shooting death of Robert G. Fuller Jr. Montgomery County Department of PolicePolice noted nothing appeared missing from Fuller’s apartment and no guns were found inside.
Security cameras captured the armed suspect wearing a mask, wig and “distinctive plaid jacket” as he exited through a tampered-with courtyard door, the alarm system on which was deactivated.
Investigators had previously determined the door’s alarm sensor had been turned off in January, on a day James was the only person to use the entrance.
Folded paper towels were found at the facility, believed to have been used to prop doors open on the day Fuller was killed and again days later.
Robert Fuller Jr. was found dead at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living Facility on Feb. 14, 2026. Kennebec Historical Society / FacebookOfficials released images of the disguised individual on Feb. 20 and received several tips that led to James being identified as the murder suspect.
Around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, a Maryland state trooper pulled over a silver Infiniti sedan without any license plates.
During the traffic stop, the driver, believed to be James, fired at the trooper before fleeing.
The bullets missed the trooper by inches, and he only sustained minor injuries.
James is accused of disguising himself in a long wig and executing an 87-year-old millionaire philanthropist. Montgomery County Department of Police
James was allegedly seen on surveillance footage entering and exiting through a tampered-with courtyard door around the time Fuller was fatally shot. Montgomery County Department of Police“Without a doubt, our Maryland State trooper escaped an outcome that could have ended much differently,” Maryland State Police Lt. Col. Steve Decerbo said Wednesday.
Investigators discovered that a 9mm shell casing at the scene was similar to the one used in Fuller’s death, linking the two shootings.
Officials say they got a lead that indicated the same gun was used in both shootings and the US Marshals tracked James down to Rockville, Maryland, where he was arrested after a brief foot chase.
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. Montgomery County Department of Police
Nothing appeared to have been taken from Fuller’s home during the crime, according to Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada. C-SpanJames was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Fuller and is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit pending a bond hearing, police said.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
James had been employed as a medication technician at the senior living facility since October. ABC7Fuller was a retired Naval Reserve officer and high-powered attorney from Augusta, Maine, where he was known to be a major philanthropist.
He donated more than $1.6 million to modernize the athletic complex of Cony High School in Augusta, as the project stalled due to financial challenges faced by the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the athletic field was named for Fuller.
With Post wires
