Possible remains found of gunman said to be responsible for Frederick strip mall fire
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: News
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FREDERICK, Md. (AP) - Investigators believe they've found the remains of a gunman who barricaded himself in a liquor store Monday, about an hour before a fire engulfed the building and destroyed about a dozen other businesses in a two-story strip mall.
A body was found about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy and possible identification, said Frederick police spokesman Lt. Thomas Chase.
"There is no way he could have escaped because we had the building completely surrounded," said Chase. "We were hoping he'd come out and he didn't come out."
Police identified the gunman as James C. Douglas, 29, of Frederick. Chase said the store clerk recognized Douglas, who also used the nickname, "Menace," and who responded to that name during negotiations that ended when Douglas broke off contact, Chase said.
He said officers posted at the rear of the building saw activity in the liquor store's storage area shortly before the fire broke out at about 1:45 p.m. Monday.
No other injuries were reported and no one else is believed to have perished in the fire at the Antietam Village Shopping Center along U.S. 15 on the city's northern edge, Chase said.
Neighbor Leslie Horner, 33, said she listened as Douglas called a friend on his cell phone. The friend asked Douglas if he had any hostages, to which he replied "No, it's just me and God in here now," Horner told The Washington Post.
The blaze destroyed a number of businesses, including a bank branch, doughnut shop, sandwich shop, hair salon, dry cleaner and a restaurant.
The gunman entered the store in the Antietam Village Shopping Center shortly before 1 p.m. and ordered the clerk to leave. The clerk ran to a neighboring store where he called police, who were fired on upon arrival, but not injured, Chase said.
A body was found about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and sent to the state medical examiner's office for an autopsy and possible identification, said Frederick police spokesman Lt. Thomas Chase.
"There is no way he could have escaped because we had the building completely surrounded," said Chase. "We were hoping he'd come out and he didn't come out."
Police identified the gunman as James C. Douglas, 29, of Frederick. Chase said the store clerk recognized Douglas, who also used the nickname, "Menace," and who responded to that name during negotiations that ended when Douglas broke off contact, Chase said.
He said officers posted at the rear of the building saw activity in the liquor store's storage area shortly before the fire broke out at about 1:45 p.m. Monday.
No other injuries were reported and no one else is believed to have perished in the fire at the Antietam Village Shopping Center along U.S. 15 on the city's northern edge, Chase said.
Neighbor Leslie Horner, 33, said she listened as Douglas called a friend on his cell phone. The friend asked Douglas if he had any hostages, to which he replied "No, it's just me and God in here now," Horner told The Washington Post.
The blaze destroyed a number of businesses, including a bank branch, doughnut shop, sandwich shop, hair salon, dry cleaner and a restaurant.
The gunman entered the store in the Antietam Village Shopping Center shortly before 1 p.m. and ordered the clerk to leave. The clerk ran to a neighboring store where he called police, who were fired on upon arrival, but not injured, Chase said.
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