On the night of Saturday, September 20, 2025, a domestic argument in a Laurel, Maryland residence turned deadly, claiming the life of 48-year-old James McGruder III. Prince George's County police officers were dispatched to a home in the 13400 block of Finsbury Court at approximately 10:45 p.m. for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered McGruder inside, suffering from a gunshot wound.
First responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
The ensuing investigation quickly pointed to a domestic dispute as the catalyst for the violence. Detectives from the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit identified McGruder's girlfriend, 33-year-old Latisha Smith of Laurel, as the suspect in the fatal shooting. The preliminary investigation indicated that Smith allegedly shot McGruder during the course of an argument.
Following the investigation, Latisha Smith was taken into custody. She has been charged with first-degree murder and other related offenses in connection with McGruder's death. Smith is currently being held at the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.
