Lawsuit filed over shooting death of man in senior living facility

Family alleges facility knew caregiver was dangerous but ignored warnings

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:15am

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A civil lawsuit has been filed in Baltimore County Circuit Court over the death of an 87-year-old philanthropist and retired attorney Robert Fuller Jr. Fuller was found shot to death on Valentine's Day in his apartment at an assisted living facility in Potomac. Police said the suspect was one of his caregivers, and Fuller's family alleges the facility knew the med-tech was dangerous but chose to ignore it.

Why it matters

This tragic incident raises concerns about senior care facility oversight and accountability, as well as the need for thorough background checks and monitoring of caregivers who are entrusted with the wellbeing of vulnerable residents.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Cogir of Potomac, the luxury senior living facility where Fuller lived, knew that the suspect, Maurquise James, was a threat to residents and staff, but the facility chose to ignore the warnings. The lawsuit alleges that the facility even fired a nurse who put her warning about James in writing. The lawsuit also claims the facility failed to act after Fuller's longtime partner, Linda Buttrick, and others identified James as a possible suspect.

  • On Valentine's Day, Robert Fuller Jr. was found shot to death in his apartment at the Cogir of Potomac senior living facility.
  • The civil lawsuit was filed in Baltimore County Circuit Court.

The players

Robert Fuller Jr.

An 87-year-old philanthropist and retired attorney who was shot and killed in his apartment at the Cogir of Potomac senior living facility.

Maurquise James

The suspect accused of shooting and killing Robert Fuller Jr. James was one of Fuller's caregivers, and the lawsuit alleges the senior living facility knew he was dangerous but ignored the warnings.

Cogir of Potomac

The luxury senior living facility where Robert Fuller Jr. lived and was killed. The lawsuit alleges the facility knew the suspect was a threat to residents and staff but chose to ignore it.

Linda Buttrick

Robert Fuller Jr.'s longtime partner, who the lawsuit claims identified the suspect as a possible suspect but the facility failed to act.

Suzanne Caron

The daughter of Linda Buttrick, who spoke on behalf of the family and said they need to know why this happened.

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What they’re saying

“We've suffered an immeasurable loss, and the trauma is ongoing, and we need to know why.”

— Suzanne Caron, Daughter of Linda Buttrick

“There's substantial evidence as to what happened. What we don't know is how it was able to institutionally happen.”

— Michael Belsky, Attorney

What’s next

The judge will decide on Maurquise James' bail review, which was initially postponed last month.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the need for senior care facilities to have rigorous screening, monitoring, and accountability measures in place to protect vulnerable residents from potential threats, even from within their own staff.