2 Taken Into Custody in Trooper's Shooting Death

Trooper Brown shot, killed early Friday outside restaurant

Prince George's County police have charged two people in the shooting death of a Maryland State Police trooper outside an Applebee's restaurant.

Cyril Cornelius Williams, 27, and Anthony Andre Milton II, 28, both of Seat Pleasant, are charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Trooper Wesley Brown, 24. Williams is being held in Baltimore on an unrelated charge. Milton is being held on no bond in Prince George's County.

Prince George's County police Deputy Chief Kevin Davis said they believe they have arrested the shooter but did not identify which suspect was the gunman. Police also recovered a semiautomatic handgun and matched it to the homicide.

Over the weekend, investigators said they found a man seen in surveillance pictures being escorted by Brown out of the restaurant where Brown was shot and killed early Friday morning. Davis said that man is Williams, who was taken in for questioning Saturday and held on an unrelated charge over the weekend.

The shooting happened early Friday morning outside the Applebee's on Donnell Drive in Forestville, possibly over an unpaid bill.

Brown, who had been a state trooper for more than three years, was working off-duty as security at the restaurant. Police said Williams refused to pay the bill and became disorderly at about midnight, News4's Megan McGrath reported, and Brown escorted him out of the restaurant.

Police believe Williams returned a half-hour later with Milton. They shot Brown and then fled on foot, police said. Brown was wearing a jacket clearly marked with "Police" on the back, and he had his service weapon on him, but he didn't have time to pull it, McGrath said. The gun was found at the scene.

Police said the initial investigation showed that Brown was talking on the phone when he was shot without warning. Multiple shell casings were found at the scene.

Brown collapsed back inside the restaurant and was transported to an area hospital, where he died. He had worn is vest, but it didn't stop the bullet from hitting his heart.

Milton told police that he returned with Williams to the restaurant and both participated in the homicide, Davis said. Police believe the motive was that Williams was kicked out of the restaurant.

Both suspects have arrest histories, Davis said. Williams's includes attempted murder, burglary, drug and weapons charges. Milton's includes weapons and assault charges.

In 2006, Williams allegedly fired on a Prince George's County police cruiser, but a second-degree attempted murder charged didn't stand up because witnesses refused to cooperate, according to sources. Instead, he spent two-and-a-half years in prison on narcotics charges.

Milton's bond hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. Williams's hasn't been scheduled.

Brown grew up in Seat Pleasant, Md., was a graduate of Crossland High School, and was engaged to be married. He had eight older sisters and an older brother.

Brown started a mentoring program for young people in his neighborhood when he was 21 to help them become responsible adults, according to MSP spokesman Greg Shipley. He was scheduled to accompany the group on a trip to New York Friday.

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. A public viewing will be help at 4 p.m. Friday at Abyssinia Baptist Church in Capitol Heights.

There is a total of $75,000 in rewards being offered for information in this case -- $25,000 from the state, $25,000 from the county, and $25,000 from Applebee's. Police are still looking for information as they build their case, though they believe there are no other suspects.

Stay with NBC4 and NBCWashington.com for more information.


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