Shots Fired Suspect Charged

On February 1, 2009 at approximately 12:50 am, officers with the Frederick Police Department responded to the 1700 block of Hillmeade Square in Amber Meadows for a report of gunshots fired. Upon arrival, officers discovered a residence had been struck during the gunfire. Several shell casings were recovered, but no suspects were initially identified.

Further investigation of the incident revealed there had been some type of confrontation between two groups of people who were known to each other. Following the confrontation, three people were exiting a house on Hillmeade Square and observed subjects from one of the groups standing across the street. Soon after, gunshots were fired in the direction of the persons who had exited the residence.

Additional interviews were conducted and Paul Travis Cox, age 17 of Frederick, was identified as the person who had fired the shots (photo right). Based on the serious nature of the charges, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Cox charging him as an adult. The charges issued in the arrest warrant were three (3) counts of attempted 1^st degree murder, three (3) counts of attempted 2^nd degree murder, three (3) counts of 1^st degree assault, three (3) counts of 2^nd degree assault, two (2) counts of malicious destruction of property < $500, and four (4) counts of reckless endangerment.

Cox, a student at Governor Thomas Johnson High School, was taken into custody without incident in the front office of the school on February 10, 2009. He was later transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center and served with the arrest warrant. Following an appearance before the District Court Commissioner, Cox was being held without bond.