A Bowie man fatally shot Wednesday was targeted by two robbers disguised as Pepco workers, Prince George’s County police said Thursday.
Police have charged John Fitzgerald Haston, 46, of Clinton, and Craig Steven Brooks, 49, of District Heights, with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of David Wayne Williams, killed inside his home in the 13200 block of Livingstone Endeavor Drive, an upscale area of Bowie.
Detectives think the suspects wore blue utility-worker uniforms to improve their chances of getting inside Mr. Williams’ home, then killed the 44-year-old businessman while robbing him, said police spokeswoman Lt. Tammy Sparkman.
“It doesn’t appear that this was random,” she said. “They were actually targeting him.”
Mr. Haston and Mr. Brooks fled the home with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.
Officers responding to a call reporting gunshots arrived at the home before 1 p.m. Wednesday to find Mr. Williams suffering from gunshot trauma. He was pronounced dead at the scene. They received tips shortly after the incident, searched the area for suspects posing as Pepco workers and found Mr. Haston near the scene.
Further investigation led police to Mr. Brooks, who was arrested at about 11:15 a.m. Thursday at his home, in the 6500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, in District Heights.
Lt. Sparkman said there was no sign of forced entry at Mr. Williams’ home, and police are still investigating exactly how the suspects gained entrance.
Both men are in custody and have also been charged with armed robbery.
Mr. Haston is scheduled to appear Aug. 11 at a preliminary District Court hearing in Upper Marlboro, according to court records. Information on Mr. Brooks was not immediately available.
Lt. Sparkman said residents who fear similar incidents should remember that Pepco employees do not typically go door to door.
She said anyone who observes such unusual activity should call Pepco’s customer-service line at 202/833-7500 or the county police non-emergency line at 301/352-1200.
• David Hill can be reached at dhill@washingtontimes.com.
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