Maurice Oliver Chase Jr. was a 38-year-old father of two and an off-duty security guard described by loved ones as caring and loyal. In the early morning hours of February 20, 2023, Chase was leaving the Takoma Towers apartment building on New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park, Maryland, to help his fiancée after her car broke down nearby. A resident had alerted him to a man in the first-floor commons area who appeared to be smoking crack cocaine.

Chase confronted the man, later identified as Luiz Marquez, and told him to leave the property. The encounter escalated after Marquez attempted to enter an apartment and spat on Chase; Chase struck Marquez in the mouth and Marquez left. As Chase stood in the doorway, Marquez returned, pulled out a gun and fired seven shots, striking him. Police found Chase inside the building about 12:40 a.m.; he was taken to a hospital and died several hours later.

Detectives identified and arrested Luiz Marquez as the suspect within hours of the shooting. Does anyone have information about Maurice’s life in Takoma Park or saw anything that night that could help clarify what happened?