The Charles County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit reports that homicide suspect James Cornell Ford Jr., 20 of Oxon Hill, was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 4 by law enforcement authorities in Tuscaloosa, Ala., who were investigating Ford’s involvement in a theft.
Alabama officers learned that Ford gave them a fictitious name and that he was wanted in Charles County for a homicide. After checking the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Web site where Ford was listed as a wanted fugitive, officials were able to confirm his true identity. Ford was taken into custody and is awaiting extradition.
The circumstances of the homicide are as follows:
On Aug. 11 at 11:03 p.m., Charles County Sheriff’s officers responded to the 3000 block of Heathcote Road in Waldorf for the report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found the victim, Joseph Ray Burgess, 21 of Waldorf, with a gunshot wound to the upper body; he was pronounced dead on the scene.
The investigation revealed Burgess was outside with a group of friends when Ford approached the group and began arguing about an event that occurred earlier in the evening. Ford produced a handgun and proceeded to pistol whip one man before shooting Burgess.
Investigators immediately obtained an arrest warrant charging Ford with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault but he fled the area.
Despite an extensive search, Ford managed to avoid apprehension until he was arrested in Alabama. “Our Web site certainly helped expedite the confirmation of Ford’s identity which allowed officers to move quickly to start the extradition process,” said Lt. Kevin Leahy, commander of the Investigations Section.
For more information, visit the Sheriff’s Office Web site at www.ccso.us.