April 17th, 2013 by WCBC Radio
On Monday evening, 04/15/2013, at approximately 6:35 PM, the Cumberland Police responded to a reported shooting on Independence Street in Cumberland. When Officers arrived they found the victim, 24 year old Rodricus Wilkes, with a head wound that was initially believed to be a gunshot wound. The Cumberland Fire Department ambulance responded to the scene and EMT’s began treating the victim who was then transported to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center for further care. While the victim was at the Medical Center undergoing treatment, it was determined that he had not been shot, but had suffered a blow to the head from a blunt object.
Investigators with the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I) responded to assist with the investigation. Through interviews of the victim and witnesses, Investigators learned that there had been an altercation in front of a private residence in the first block of Independence Street between the victim and the suspect. The suspect produced a handgun, and apparently while striking the victim in the head with the gun, it discharged without striking the victim. Up to an additional two more shots were fired.
The victim, believing he had been shot, ran to another private residence. Upon the victim’s arrival, the residents called 911 requesting emergency assistance. The suspect was last observed jumping into a dark colored, late model SUV, operated by another subject, and fleeing the scene.
C3I Investigators obtained a search and seizure warrant for a residence on Independence Street. Several items of evidence were recovered, including one of the spent projectiles believed fired during the altercation. The scene was processed by a Crime Scene Technician with the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division.
On April 16, 2013 the Cumberland Police Department served an Allegany County District Court arrest warrant on Antonio Fagan Jr., age 25 of Cumberland. The arrest warrant was the result of a combined investigation between Cumberland Police Department and C3I into a firearms incident on Independence Street in the city. Fagan was charged with Assault 1st Degree, Assault 2nd Degree, Handgun use in felony, and Handgun on person. Fagan was held on $150,000 bond in the Allegany County Detention Center after an initial appearance.
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