Wounded man charged with first-degree murder in botched burglary

A 26-year-old Gaithersburg man was charged with murder after detectives recovered the victim’s spent bullet inside the clothing of the suspect.

Twenty-three-year-old Marc St. Aubin was killed during a burglary turned deadly at a home in the 15800 block of Laughlin Lane in Silver Spring, according to Montgomery County Police.

Tavon Miles

On the night of March 3, a group of armed men broke into St. Aubin’s home. There was a scuffle, and gunshots, and St. Aubin was found on the driveway. A medical examiner determined that he had been stabbed and beaten to death.

A gun holster was found along the small of the victim’s back. The handgun was never found.

Police said several items were removed from St. Aubin’s home, including guns, a safe and suspected marijuana. Officers recovered bullets from inside the home.

Shortly after police arrived on the scene, officers were notified of an adult male who was dropped off at a nearby hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. He was identified as Tavon Miles.

A bullet recovered from Miles’ clothing was compared to the bullets recovered from inside the home.

Forensics tests revealed that the bullets were of the same caliber and fired from the same gun. The homicide victim, St. Aubin, had a gun of that caliber registered in Maryland.

Miles, 26, survived the gunshot wound, and was charged Saturday with first-degree murder, first degree burglary, and first degree armed robbery. He is being held without bond.

Detectives continue to investigate the killing and are working to identify other suspects in the case. Detectives are asking anyone who has information about this homicide to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070.  Callers may remain anonymous.

 

 

The Crime Scene: IRS hires crooked cop; woman flees ambulance after medics argue; and man in girl’s disappearance gave gifts to kids

One person was killed in a hit-and-run bus crash on I-95 near Lorton. (Photo Virginia State Police)

• D.C. man linked to disappearance of child is charged with killing wife (D.C. Crime Stories)

• D.C. shelter residents say janitor sought in girl’s disappearance gave gifts to children (The Washington Post)

• Md. man charged in murder-for-hire slaying of girlfriend 14 years ago (WBAL)

• IRS hires former cop convicted of snooping for subject in al Qaeda probe (Washington Times)

• D.C. woman gets out of ambulance, takes Metro after paramedics argue (NBC4)

• FBI headquarters would be boon for Maryland, economists say (Baltimore Sun)

• Argument between Sterling roommates leaves on dead (WJLA)

• Two dead after wrong-way crash (WTOP)

• Georgetown student charged with making ricin (WAMU)

• District men found guilty of first-degree murder of government witness (D.C. Crime Stories)

• Arrest made in UMd. on-campus robbery (WUSA9)

• Candle fires destroy three homes in one weekend (NBC4)

D.C. men found guilty of first-degree murder of government witness

Two D.C. men were found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2008 slaying of a woman who was a government witness in a series of shootings in Northwest Washington.

Willie Walker Jr., 23, and Ricky Donaldson, 22, were members of a gang that operated around the LeDroit Park neighborhood in Northwest Washington. The gang, known as LDP or Westside, sold crack and was involved in other illegal activities, mainly in the Kelly Miller housing development in LeDroit Park.

In February 2008, Walker shot a 55-year-old woman several times in her legs, and later argued with another woman, Delois “Peaches” Persha, 44.

Persha told Walker that she would not be treated the same way as the other woman, and in response, Walker shot her multiple times in her torso, prosecutors said.Then as she lay on the ground, he walked over to her and shot her multiple times in the face.

Persha survived the attack, and immediately identified Walker as her assailant to police. Persha, who had grown up in LeDroit Park, was relocated out of the area for her protection.

After Walker’s arrest, he and Donaldson, began communicating about hunting down and killing the witnesses against Walker.

On Sept. 13, 2008, Donaldson located Persha, who had returned to the area of LeDroit Park, and fatally shot her multiple times in the back of the head. She died from her injuries five days later.

“There is nothing we take more seriously than prosecuting those who would dare to use violence against a witness for simply being willing to tell the truth,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen Jr. “In gunning down a witness, these gang members destroyed their own futures. The heinous actions will put them where they belong — behind bars for decades.”

Walker and Donaldson were found guilty by a jury Friday of first-degree premeditated murder while armed with aggravating circumstance, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder while armed, obstructing justice, several firearms offenses, and related criminal street gang charges.

The jury also found Walker guilty of charges of aggravated assault and assault with intent to kill for two related shootings in February and March of 2008.

The defendants will be sentenced May 30 in D.C. Superior Court.

The Crime Scene: Suspect killed by police at I-95 rest stop; woman, 75, set 25 fires to high-rise; and Jewish community fights re-trial of 1969 child killer

We round up the top crime stories because you need to get out of Dodge.

• Woman found dead in search of 8-year-old; Amber Alert issued (D.C. Crime Stories)

• Baltimore Jewish community fights re-trial of 1969 child killer (Baltimore Sun)

• Man killed by police at Maryland rest stop after chase on I-95 (WBAL)

• Montgomery County police officer pleads guilty to assaulting wife (Washington Post)

Shirley Ann Vigneau

• 75-year-old woman says she set 25 fires to own high-rise building (NBC4)

• Silver Spring man’s death sparks debate over defibrillators in police cars (Md. Gazette)

• Manassas man accused of impersonating officer (NBC4)

• PG police warn drivers of speed camera scams (WJLA)

• Amber Alert issued for missing Virginia boy (WJLA)

• Police identify suspect in Chevy Chase carjacking, police-involved shooting (Bethesda Now)

• Attempted murder charge dropped in ‘shaken baby’ case  (Md. Gazette)

• Data breach at University of Maryland — again (College Park Patch)

• Alarm clock ‘bomb’ near university looked like the real thing (Delmarvanow)

The Crime Scene: Judge mystified by feats of strength; ricin found in G-Town dorm; and Elle names Lanier top cop

The Crime Scene: It’s like coffee but with bad cops and dirty politicians.

• Bush administration official charged with abduction, sex assault (D.C. Crime Stories)

• Marion Barry endorses D.C. mayor amid federal probe (Associated Press)

• Ricin found in Georgetown dorm room (Washington Post)

• Elle magazine names Chief Lanier one of most powerful woman of Washington (WTOP)

• Debate continues over reinstate fired D.C. officers (WJLA)

Jacqueline Smith

• Elementary school principal resigns after DUI arrest (ARLnow.com)

• Maryland judge mystified by man’s bizarre strength (Associated Press)

• Naked woman arrested trying to visit husband in jail, police say (D.C. Crime Stories)

• Dozens of rabbits seek home after house fire (D.C. Crime Stories)

• Arlington County official pleads guilty to accepting bribes (Washington Post)

• Caught on camera: Suspect sought in armed robbery (D.C. Crime Stories)

• Wig-wearing bank robbery featured in Wanted Wednesday (D.C. Crime Stories)

• Wikileaks’ Manning petitions to change name to ‘Chelsea’ (WJLA)

• FBI joins probe of missing airliner (USAToday)

Caught on Camera: Suspect wanted in armed robbery of D.C. store

D.C. police are looking for a suspect in armed robbery of a convenience store, and they are asking the public for information that can lead to his arrest.

Police have released surveillance video and photos that they hope can be used to help identify the man.

About 7:30 p.m. Sunday, the man walked into an establishment in the 900 block of Bladensburg Road NE. The video shows the man pull out a silver handgun and reach over the counter to take money from a cash register.

Anyone who has information regarding this case should call police at 202-727-9099.  Information also may be submitted to the text tip line by text messaging 50411.

DC Crime Solvers offers a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a robbery committed in the District of Columbia.

Naked woman arrested trying to visit husband in jail, police said

Maura Fussell

A 26-year-old woman was arrested after police said she showed up to jail naked and drunk.

According to Arlington County Police, the woman, 26-year-old Maura Fussell, of Reston, arrived at the magistrate’s office Saturday evening to visit her husband, who had been arrested in Clarendon early in the day.

When the officers told her she had to put clothes on or get in a cab and go home, she refused. Police arrested Fussell with indecent exposure and being drunk in public. She was held at the jail until she sobered up, police said.

Wig-wearing bank robber sought on Wanted Wednesday

Prince George’s County police detectives are looking for a colorful, wig-wearing bank robber as part of the department’s Wanted Wednesday feature this week.

Police said the man targeted a bank in the 7100 block of Temple Hill Road in Camp Springs on Tuesday.

He wore a black wig, sunglasses, a burgundy baseball cap, a blue and black sweater and a pink scarf. He was also carrying a green canvas bag. If you saw this suspect or may know who he is call, please call (301) 772-4905 or Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.

 

Dozens of pet rabbits need homes after surviving housefire

Prince George’s County officials are looking for homes for dozens of rabbits that survived a house fire. Animal control officials are offering discounts for the rabbit adoptions. (Photo Prince George’s County Fire PIO)

Forty-one pet bunny rabbits are looking for a home after a house fire in New Carrolton, officials said.

The animals’ owner woke up from a nap Sunday afternoon when a burning log shifted and fell out of the fireplace, catching nearby combustibles on fire.

The homeowner escaped the house and called 911. Firefighters knocked out the fire and discovered numerous pets including about 40 pet rabbits.

The homeowner has no place to keep his rabbits and gave them over to the county. Animal control officlas are now seeking homes for for the animals. The county is discounting the adoptions to $30 each, which includes spay or neuter.

“We have a whole lot of rabbits we’re looking for new and loving homes,” said Rodney Taylor, associate director, animal management division. “We want them to be a pet, we want them to live in a house. They need daily care just like a dog or cat would need.”

For additional information on how to adopt one of these rabbits call the Animal Shelter at 301-780-7201.

Crime History, March 19, 1831: Shoemaker commits first known bank heist in U.S.

Wall Street as it looked in 1831.

On this day, March 19, in 1831, Edward Smith committed the first recorded bank heist in the United States in New York City.

Smith, who ran a shoe shop, used a duplicated set of keys to enter the City Bank on Wall Street — now known as Citibank — after the establishment closed. He made off with $245,000 and spent $60,000 before he was caught a week later.

Smith was sentenced to five years of hard labor in Sing Sing prison.

Today, the most common method of robbing banks is to simply hand a teller a note demanding cash, according to the FBI.

— Scott McCabe