In the early morning hours of September 29, 2023, the life of 27-year-old Mariah Termetrice Logan was tragically cut short in White Plains, Maryland. A female, she was inside a business located in the 4700 block of Crain Highway when a dispute erupted between two groups of people. The altercation, the cause of which remains unclear, moved outside the establishment.
Among those involved in the dispute was James Fred Coffen, a 45-year-old resident of White Plains.
After he and another man, 36-year-old Paul Ernest Fleming of Indian Head, exited the business, gunfire rang out. Fleming was struck by the gunshots. During the chaos, a stray bullet penetrated the walls of the business and struck Mariah Logan, who was an innocent bystander inside.
Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 12:02 a.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered both Mariah Logan and Paul Fleming suffering from gunshot wounds. They were both transported to a local hospital, but tragically, both succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced deceased.
Later that same day, following a preliminary investigation, detectives from the Charles County Sheriff's Office located and arrested James Fred Coffen at a residence. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and other related offenses in connection with the deaths of both Mariah Logan and Paul Fleming. Coffen was taken to the Charles County Detention Center to await a court appearance. The investigation into the double homicide is ongoing.
