A well-known Maine benefactor and former Navy officer was discovered fatally shot in his senior living apartment in a wealthy Maryland suburb on Valentine’s Day. The incident, which has led to no arrests so far, has stunned two distant communities.
Robert Fuller Jr., 87, was found unresponsive with significant head injuries at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living residence in Potomac, Maryland, on the morning of February 14, 2026. Montgomery County police arrived at the 10800 block of Potomac Tennis Lane around 7:34 a.m. after receiving a medical call described by investigators as a “reported code.”
Emergency crews attempted to save him, but Fuller was declared dead at the location. Officers saw head trauma immediately, and after processing the scene, homicide detectives determined he had been shot. His death is now being treated as a homicide.
Authorities have shared no suspect details, and no arrests have been made as the investigation reached its seventh day. Detectives have not determined whether Fuller was specifically targeted or whether the perpetrator came from inside or outside the residence. His body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy to establish the official cause and manner of death.
Fuller moved to the Washington, D.C. region a few years ago with his wife to be near her relatives and remained in Potomac after she died. Friends described him as a wealthy attorney who practiced in Maine for over 35 years, a senior Naval Reserve officer, and a generous donor who contributed millions to local causes.
In 2021, Fuller contributed $1.64 million to upgrade Cony High School’s Alumni Field complex in Augusta, Maine—reviving a $2.3 million project that had stalled due to funding gaps and COVID-19 budget issues. The City Council later named the complex Fuller Field in recognition of his contribution. Improvements included a new synthetic turf field, upgraded bleachers, and a revamped track and field area.
“I believe that when a high school has a continuing history of athletic success, it fosters a sense of community pride,” Fuller said when he made the donation. “So I don’t think of my action as simply a gift but rather as an investment in Augusta’s future.”
Fuller and his late wife Moira previously lived in Winthrop, Maine, and supported many community institutions, including MaineGeneral Medical Center, Kennebec Valley YMCA, Lithgow Public Library, Old Fort Western, and the Kennebec Historical Society. A senior Naval Reserve officer, he also wrote the novel “Unnatural Deaths,” published in 2009.
Fuller inherited a complex family history as a descendant of Melville Weston Fuller, the eighth Chief Justice of the United States from 1888 to 1910. The Fuller Court oversaw the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling, which introduced the “separate but equal” doctrine that upheld segregation and Jim Crow laws for decades.
This historical tie led to controversy when Fuller funded a statue of his ancestor outside the Kennebec County Courthouse in 2013. The statue drew backlash following George Floyd’s death in 2020 and renewed scrutiny of the county’s racial history. County commissioners voted to return the statue to Fuller, and he had it removed at his own cost. He later considered, but declined, placing it in a proposed museum near its former courthouse location.
Kent London, president of the Kennebec Historical Society, expressed sorrow over the loss of a major supporter with longstanding ties to Augusta. Fuller aided the society in acquiring its headquarters—the Henry Weld Fuller Jr. House, once owned by an ancestor—and helped create its development fund, named for his late wife.
“He’s going to be missed,” London said. “The history of the Fuller family goes back to the very beginning of Augusta.”
Maine State Rep. Bill Bridgeo, who first met Fuller while serving as Augusta’s city manager, said the philanthropist supported “a new YMCA, a new hospital in town, a big expansion to our high school.” Bridgeo told NBC Washington he plans to honor Fuller in the state legislature.
Residents at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility remain unsettled by the killing. Executive Director Rachel Grant emailed community members Monday, stressing that safety remains the highest priority. Grant said the incident was isolated and that there is no ongoing threat, though she withheld details to respect those involved and safeguard the investigation. The facility has since increased security and added more staff. Counseling will also be provided.
Montgomery County police are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477. Tips may remain anonymous, and information leading to an arrest could earn a reward between $250 and $10,000.
The case is an especially disturbing event in a wealthy community unaccustomed to violent crime. Investigators continue working to understand what led to the fatal shooting of an elderly man inside a facility expected to be safe. Fuller’s charitable work in Maine and his military service have generated widespread tributes from those who remembered him as a generous and community-focused figure.