Roommate Strangled With Electrical Cords, Murder Charge Ensues: Baltimore County Police

WOODLAWN, MD - A man was charged with murder after police allege he strangled his roommate with electrical cords during an argument Thursday night.

Authorities said Calvin Fernanda Phair, 47, of the unit block of Walden Cypress Court, was performing CPR on the victim when police arrived at the residence before midnight Thursday.

Officers said they were called to an assault between two roommates and when they got there, one of the men was in cardiac arrest.

The roommates had been having an argument that turned into a physical fight and they fell to the ground, police said. Phair got on top of the victim, grabbed nearby electrical cords and strangled his roommate, police allege.

Elijah McKeith Smalls, 39, was pronounced deceased at the scene, officials said.

Phair was charged was first-degree murder and first-degree assault and booked at the Baltimore County Detention Center, where he was being held without bail.

Photo of Calvin Fernanda Phair courtesy of the Baltimore County Police Department.