Prince George's County police said Monday they have charged two men in the slaying of an off-duty Maryland state trooper outside a restaurant last week.
Deputy Chief Kevin Davis said Cyril Cornelius Williams, 27, and Anthony Anderson Milton II, 28, both of Seat Pleasant, have been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 24-year-old Trooper Wesley Brown.
"We believe we have arrested the shooter," Davis said at a news conference with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and other officials. "We believe we've arrested all principal suspects."
Brown was shot early Friday while working as a security guard at an Applebee's restaurant. Brown, who wore a jacket that identified him as an officer, was talking on a phone in the parking lot at the time, state police said.
Officials did not identify which man pulled the trigger, but said they recovered a semiautomatic handgun that was used in the shooting. Davis said Williams was the original person of interest whom Brown had escorted out of the restaurant over a dispute involving an unpaid bill.
Davis said the motive of the killing was because Williams was upset. He said the men did not know Brown before the incident.
Both men have extensive criminal records. Williams was being held in Baltimore and was initially taken into custody on a parole and probation violation. Milton was being held at the county jail.
Milton's bond review is scheduled for Tuesday in Prince George's County. A court hearing has not yet been set for Williams.
Covered in blood, Brown made it back inside the restaurant and passed out, police said. Officials said that Brown was wearing a vest, but it did not stop the bullet from entering Brown's upper body and hitting his heart. He died at a hospital.
Police said tips from the public helped identify and locate the suspects. But they said they still need help in the investigation. A reward of up to $75,000 on information still being offered.
"We still need folks to come forward with information," Davis said.
State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan said Brown was "showing great potential." He said officials told Brown's grieving family of the arrests.
"This is a bittersweet moment for us all," Sheridan said. "This was a bad day for the Maryland State Police."
O'Malley said: "There's no way to make sense of madness and cruelty."
Brown's cousin said Brown had eight older sisters and an older brother. He was recently engaged to be married.
State police said funeral services for Brown will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Jericho City of Praise in Landover followed by burial at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland.
Deputy Chief Kevin Davis said Cyril Cornelius Williams, 27, and Anthony Anderson Milton II, 28, both of Seat Pleasant, have been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 24-year-old Trooper Wesley Brown.
"We believe we have arrested the shooter," Davis said at a news conference with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and other officials. "We believe we've arrested all principal suspects."
Brown was shot early Friday while working as a security guard at an Applebee's restaurant. Brown, who wore a jacket that identified him as an officer, was talking on a phone in the parking lot at the time, state police said.
Officials did not identify which man pulled the trigger, but said they recovered a semiautomatic handgun that was used in the shooting. Davis said Williams was the original person of interest whom Brown had escorted out of the restaurant over a dispute involving an unpaid bill.
Davis said the motive of the killing was because Williams was upset. He said the men did not know Brown before the incident.
Both men have extensive criminal records. Williams was being held in Baltimore and was initially taken into custody on a parole and probation violation. Milton was being held at the county jail.
Milton's bond review is scheduled for Tuesday in Prince George's County. A court hearing has not yet been set for Williams.
Covered in blood, Brown made it back inside the restaurant and passed out, police said. Officials said that Brown was wearing a vest, but it did not stop the bullet from entering Brown's upper body and hitting his heart. He died at a hospital.
Police said tips from the public helped identify and locate the suspects. But they said they still need help in the investigation. A reward of up to $75,000 on information still being offered.
"We still need folks to come forward with information," Davis said.
State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan said Brown was "showing great potential." He said officials told Brown's grieving family of the arrests.
"This is a bittersweet moment for us all," Sheridan said. "This was a bad day for the Maryland State Police."
O'Malley said: "There's no way to make sense of madness and cruelty."
Brown's cousin said Brown had eight older sisters and an older brother. He was recently engaged to be married.
State police said funeral services for Brown will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Jericho City of Praise in Landover followed by burial at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland.
