Suspect in Potomac senior living homicide ruled incompetent, placed in psych facility

Hearing for suspect in Potomac philanthropist’s killing

The med-tech accused of murdering an 87 year old millionaire philanthropist in Potomac is scheduled to appear before a judge Thursday. Investigators say 22 year old Marquis Emillo James shot and killed Robert Fuller on Valentine’s Day.

POTOMAC, Md. - The man accused of killing an 87‑year‑old philanthropist at a Potomac senior‑living facility was ruled incompetent to stand trial Friday morning. 

What we know:

22‑year‑old Marquis James is accused of shooting and killing Robert Fuller inside the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility, where James was employed as a medication technician responsible for dispensing residents’ prescriptions.

On Friday, James was ruled incompetent and dangerous. He has been ordered to be placed in a psychiatric facility until his next evaluation and hearing on November 9. 

The backstory:

Fuller, 87, was found dead the morning of Feb. 14 inside his apartment at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility. Police say he died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Fuller was a retired Navy Reserve officer and attorney from Augusta, Maine, widely known for his philanthropic work.

Police released surveillance video of the suspect, later identified by fellow staff as James, on the grounds of the senior facility. In the video the suspect is wearing what appears to be a long wig. 

James is also accused of firing at a Maryland state trooper during a traffic stop in Baltimore. FOX 5’s Melanie Alnwick reported that ballistics testing linked the bullet that killed Fuller to the round fired at the trooper, according to charging documents. The trooper was not hit.

Detectives say James had been inside Fuller’s apartment the evening of Feb. 13 to administer medication. Charging documents also allege James tampered with security systems before the shooting, disabling alarms and propping open exterior doors.