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Jose Manchame, 41, was charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence in connection to the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Mauricio Guzman-Leon in April.
According to police, shortly after 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, troopers were called to investigate a reported shooting in the 4900 block of Hanover Pike (Route 30) in Manchester.
It is alleged that on the day of the shooting, Guzman-Leon was driven to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department in Westminster by his brother, Rudy Guzman-Leon, 23, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
Guzman-Leon was treated and airlifted to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, for treatment and evaluation of his injuries, where he later died on May 4.
It was later determined that the brothers went to the site of the shooting to retrieve mail belonging to Rudy or to “pick up his government card,” but that an argument then occurred and thereafter the brothers left the property.
When the brothers subsequently returned in the late afternoon, investigators say that one of the residents, who Rudy identified as Manchame, shot at him and his brother, and that while driving away from the scene of the shooting in search of assistance, he was involved in a car crash.
Witnesses reported hearing at least five gunshots coming from the area, and members of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office found two bullet holes near the driver’s side mirror, one hole at the top of the windshield, and a bullet in the front passenger seat.
Rudy advised investigators that he knew Manchame prior to this incident, citing that Rudy and Manchame’s son are friends.
Manchame surrendered later that day amid the investigation by county and state police.
The day after the shooting, Manchame was interviewed by state police investigators, stating that the brothers came to the residence and left several times before accusing him of stealing government documents that were sent to the address in the mail.
"Manchame stated that Rudy made several verbal threats toward him," a spokesperson for the state's attorney's office said.
"Rudy eventually left in his silver Chevrolet sedan, and returned later in the evening with Mauricio when a party was going on at the residence with 20 to 25 people present."
Manchame further stated that the two returned to the property for a final time at 5 p.m., and that Rudy was driving in circles through the grass and around the property and eventually parked the vehicle on a driveway to the rear of the house and exited the vehicle.
According to Manchame, Rudy was trying to pick a fight with him and his nephew, at which point he retreated into the home and retrieved a loaded .38 revolver while the brothers returned to their vehicle, but refused to leave.
Manchame stated that in an attempt to get them to leave, he fired five shots from the revolver toward the silver Chevrolet, one of which struck Mauricio, prosecutors said.
The Manchester resident is being held without bond pending his next court appearance on Jun 14 in the Circuit Court for Carroll County.
“I commend the Maryland State Police for its quick response and thorough investigation of this shooting that resulted in the death of a young man," State's Attorney Haven Shoemaker said.
"My office will be no less determined and diligent in prosecuting this matter to its fullest.”
If convicted, Manchame faces up to 40 years in prison for the murder charge, and up to 20 years in prison with five years mandatory without parole for the weapon offense.
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