On an evening in late August of 2018, tragedy struck in Dundalk, Maryland, ending the life of 26-year-old Gabrielle Marie Paugh. On August 27th, police were called to a home on Wise Avenue around 7:30 p.m., where they discovered two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Paugh was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. The second victim, 34-year-old Aaron Michael Wearins, was listed in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation
quickly zeroed in on a suspect, identifying 37-year-old Tavon Powell as the man wanted for the double shooting. Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of murder and attempted murder. Neighbors revealed a tumultuous backstory, stating that Paugh and Powell had been in a relationship and that Powell, who still possessed a key to the residence, had entered the home to find Paugh with her new boyfriend, Wearins. This act of jealous rage is believed to be the motive for the violent encounter that ensued.
A manhunt for Powell began, with police urging the public to come forward with any information on his whereabouts. The search for the suspect, who was considered a threat to the community, extended beyond the borders of Maryland. Evidence eventually led investigators to believe that Powell had fled the state. Acting on a tip, U.S. Marshals located Powell in Kenner, Louisiana, nearly a month after the fatal shooting. On September 18, 2018, law enforcement surrounded the home where he was hiding. After a standoff that involved a SWAT team, Powell surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody without incident. Following his arrest, Powell was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and was slated for extradition back to Maryland to face trial for the deaths of Gabrielle Paugh and Aaron Wearins.
