The individual was apprehended in Pennsylvania.
FInksburg, Md (KM) The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office has charged an individual with a homicide in Finksburg earlier this month. During a news conference on Tuesday, Sheriff Jim DeWees said Austin Paul Potocki, 30, was apprehended at his home in Hanover, Pennsylvania on Monday evening. He is a suspect in the murder of Benjamin Billings, and the attempted murder of David Anderson.
He’s being held in York County, Pennsylvania as a fugitive from justice. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office says it’s holding a warrant for Potock for murder and other related charges.
On Friday, December 13th, at around 7:44 AM, deputies responded to the intersection of Wesley Road and Patapsco Road for a shooting. “Deputies located a white Silverado pickup truck in the intersection with two gunshot victims: Benjamin Billings, the driver, and David Anderson, the passenger,” Sheriff DeWees said. “Mr. Billings was pronounced dead at the scene, and Mr. Anderson was taken to Sinai Hospital with a gunshot wound to his left arm.”
The Sheriff said detectives worked on this case non-stop and were able to identify Potocki as the suspect. “Detectives executed search warrants at Potocki’s Hanover, Pennsylvania’s residence, and recovered physical evidence, along with cell phones and computers that narrowed down a time line placing him near the scene during the shooting,” he said.
In addition, Sheriff DeWees says the suspect in this case allegedly planned out the shooting. “We believe that Mr. Potocki lied in wait and knew the movements of Billings and Anderson,” he said. “We believe Potocki fired multiple rounds from an AR 223 from a location to the east of the intersection, and fled on foot to a vehicle that he had staged nearby.,” says DeWees.
During the course of their investigation, detectives recovered an AR 223 rifle and shell casings. The Sheriff’s Office says Potocki tried to destroy these shell casings at his home.
“Mr. Potocki had a business relationship with Billings and Anderson through his pool company named Austin Pool Service in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and was about to be a litigant in a civil lawsuit initiated by Mr. Anderson,” Sheriff DeWees continues. “There are texts between the two regarding this potential litigation.”
Also speaking at the news conference was Haven Shoemaker, the State’s Attorney for Carroll County. He said this isn’t the type of crime that happens everyday in Carroll County, but the Sheriff’s Office and the State’s Attorney’s take it “incredibly seriously.” “We certainly believe that, although anybody is presumed innocent, we have a very strong case. And our ultimate goal is to get justice for the victims of this heinous crime, and the good people of Carroll County,” Shoemaker said.
In a statement, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office says it will continue to collect and analyze evidence from this crime, and turn the case over to the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
The apprehension of Mr. Potocki was an effort by detectives with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division, along with the West Manheim Police and the York County Quick Response Team in Pennsylvania.
By Kevin McManus