The Metropolitan Police Department made an arrest yesterday in the death of an off-duty firefighter who was fatally shot in Northeast following an argument over a card game.
Investigators charged Eugene Pugh, 38, no fixed address, in connection with the May 10 death of Michael G. Holmone Jr., 25, a member of the D.C. fire department's Engine Co. 19. Mr. Holmone was found shot multiple times shortly after 9 p.m. in the 3500 block of Jay Street Northeast.
Mr. Holmone, who used to live in the area and was visiting friends at an apartment complex, was involved in a dispute during the card game, said Capt. C.V. Morris of the police department's Violent Crimes Branch.
Mr. Pugh shot Mr. Holmone several times before fleeing the scene, Capt. Morris said.
Mr. Holmone was taken to Prince George's County Hospital and pronounced dead at 9:45 p.m.
Mr. Pugh was apprehended without incident yesterday at 11 a.m. at his place of employment, a Safeway supermarket in the 500 block of Rhode Island Avenue Northeast. He is charged with first-degree murder while armed and remains in custody.
Capt. Morris said Mr. Holmone knew his attacker, and multiple witnesses came forward with information.
"The suspect was quite familiar with the victim," he said, adding no other arrests are expected.
The police department reported 60 homicides in the city as of yesterday, compared with 53 at that time last year.
Mr. Holmone was hired by the fire department five years ago through a federally funded cadet program to give jobs to at-risk youth.
His graduating class has been marked by violent incidents, including Mr. Holmone's being shot in his car by a fellow cadet on New Year's Day 2002.
Another cadet, Marcus Holness, was in the car with Mr. Holmone at the time but escaped without injury. But Mr. Holness was stabbed in May 2002 and fatally shot two months later outside a nightclub in Southwest.
Republished with permission of The Washington Times.
