In the winter of 2019, a dispute between two acquaintances in Waldorf, Maryland, ended in tragedy. John Ercell Staton, a 54-year-old Black male, was shot and killed on December 10 in the parking lot of the Smallwood Village Center. The incident, which at first appeared to be a random act of violence, was the culmination of a personal grievance held by the shooter.
The investigation into Staton's death quickly pointed to 55-year-old Fred Odell Scott Sr. as the primary suspect.
It was revealed that Scott believed Staton had burglarized his home on November 27, 2019, stealing televisions, clothing, computers, and cash. Witnesses to the shooting heard Scott yelling at Staton, accusing him of the break-in. An hour before the fatal encounter, Scott had reportedly attempted to strike Staton with his vehicle, telling a witness of his intention to kill him.
On the afternoon of December 10, Scott confronted Staton in the shopping center parking lot. An altercation ensued, during which Scott produced a handgun and shot Staton multiple times before fleeing in a gray vehicle. Staton was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two days later, on December 12, Fred Odell Scott Sr. was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and use of a firearm during the commission of a crime, among other related charges.
In the face of the evidence against him, Scott eventually entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence on July 2, 2021. On May 6, 2022, a judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison for his actions. Upon his eventual release, Scott will be subject to five years of supervised probation.
