News details have emerged in a Silver Spring murder involving three friends, all recent college graduates from Northern Virginia who were top scholars and high achievers.
Rahul Gupta, 24, has been charged in the death of 23-year-old Georgetown University law student Mark Waugh.
Testimony at a bond hearing Tuesday revealed that Waugh was stabbed seven or eight times with a butcher knife taken from the kitchen of the East-West Highway apartment where Gupta and his girlfriend live.
Prosecutor Steve Chaiken said the knife was evidence that Gupta, a friend of Waugh's since high school, is a danger to the public. Chaiken argued that Gupta's $2 million cash bond should not be lowered, a claim the judge ultimately agreed with.
Defense attorney Reginald Boors said Gupta's parents are government contractors hit hard by the federal shutdown and were unable to raise the money. They tried to put up property, but it was not enough to cover the $2 million.
He said Gupta posed no risk, saying, "He's been in magnet schools, gifted-and-talented programs, a graduate of Langley High School, and George Washington University. He has a master's degree from Georgetown University."
Waugh was found with stab wounds early Saturday after police were called to Gupta's apartment around 3:25 a.m.
According to charging documents, Gupta, his girlfriend, Waugh and another friend had spent that night drinking and celebrating Gupta's birthday.
Gupta's girlfriend called police when she woke up in the middle of the night and saw Gupta kneeling next to Waugh, who was bleeding heavily, according to charging documents.
Waugh, of Great Falls, Va., was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gupta told officers, "I walked in on them cheating, and I killed my buddy," according to the charging documents.
"I think it will ultimately be shown [Gupta] has a valid defense to the charge," Gupta's lawyer said.
