Crime & Safety
Man Tied To Fatal Senior Living Facility Shooting Not Competent To Stand Trial
The decision came two months after the man was previously ruled competent to stand trial in the death of a millionaire philanthropist.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — The former med tech accused of fatally shooting a millionaire philanthropist at a Montgomery County senior living facility was found not competent to stand trial on Friday, according to a report.
Maurquise James, 22, is accused of first-degree murder in the death of 87-year-old Robert Fuller Jr., who died at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility in February from a gunshot wound to the head.
The new ruling came two months after James was found competent to stand trial.
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During a competency hearing on Friday, a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge agreed with a doctor from the Maryland Department of Health that James is not capable of assisting in his own defense, WTOP reported. The same doctor also conducted James' competency hearing in March.
Another competency hearing is scheduled for six months from now.
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Fuller, a native of Maine who moved to Montgomery County with his wife and remained in the region after her death, was widely known for his philanthropic work. The senior home's millionaire resident had donated to projects, including the construction of a women's veterans shelter and a hospital, among others.
James started working as a medicine technician at the senior home in October. Early in the investigation, James admitted to having come into contact with Fuller, saying he had gotten along well with the resident.
Prosecutors previously stated that James had planned the shooting for more than a month and described it as a "pre-planned, cold-blooded killing" that took place when Fuller was in his bed.
No motive has been detailed by investigators.
A lawsuit tied to the case alleges management ignored repeated warnings leading up to the shooting, according to ABC 7.
The complaint was filed by the family of Linda Buttrick, who was Fuller's longtime partner. It claims that 11 days before the shooting occurred, a complaint was filed by a nurse who was later dismissed, and that the complaints were suppressed by Shenise James-Dubose.
James-Dubose is not only Cogir's regional health and wellness director, but also the mother of the accused shooter, according to The Banner.
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