Baltimore, Md. (January 18, 2024) - Today, State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates announced that Chase Wilson was sentenced to 40 years, suspend all but 25 years, for the fatal shooting of Morgan State University security guard Julian Fruh in August of 2022 at the 4400 block of Marble Hall Road. Wilson was found guilty in July of Second Degree Murder, Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime of Violence, and Wear/Carry/Transport of a Handgun. Assistant State’s Attorney Victoria Yeager prosecuted this case.
“A homicide near Morgan State University, at an off-campus housing facility, a place that should be a safe haven for our young people to learn, grow, and thrive in, is deeply traumatizing. Though Mr. Wilson will spend the next two decades in prison, this sentence pales in comparison to the life he took from 19-year-old Mr. Julian Fruh,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “While we respect the decision of the jury on the verdict of second-degree murder, we remain baffled by the sentence imposed by the judge for such a callous act of violence. I believe Mr. Wilson should have been sentenced to the full 60 years for the crime of killing an individual who was only there to increase public safety for residents in the area, and this exiguous sentence simply victimizes this family, already suffering from trauma, all over again. Still, I applaud the outstanding work done by my Homicide Division in this challenging case and hope this outcome gives the family of Mr. Fruh a sense of justice.”
On August 31, 2022, at approximately 9:12 p.m., Baltimore City dispatchers were notified of a shooting on the 4400 block of Marble Hall Road near Morgan State University. Campus police called the dispatcher, asking for the Baltimore Police Homicide Unit to respond to an adult male shot at the location. Homicide detectives responded to the scene and were advised that the victim was identified as Julian Fruh, an employee of Allied Universal, the security company for the apartments at the location.
During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that the victim was walking in the parking lot of the apartment complex, preparing to end his shift, when an unknown male approached on foot, shot the victim multiple times, and then fled the location. A co-worker of the victim rendered aid and called for a medic. The victim was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where, despite all efforts, he succumbed to his injuries at 9:39 p.m.
Surveillance footage from the night of the murder showed the victim on his cellphone standing in the parking lot. It also showed a Black male wearing a light blue hoodie and blue shorts talking on his mobile phone while walking south in the parking lot from Loch Raven Blvd, going toward the victim. The footage shows the victim looking toward the suspect as he continues to be on the phone. When the victim hangs up his phone, the suspect does the same. A review of phone records confirmed that the victim and suspect were talking to one another. When they meet, another camera angle shows shots fired at the victim, who falls to the ground. The video footage follows the suspect running into a building.
On September 1, 2022, detectives obtained a search and seizure warrant for the suspect’s residence, where they recovered a blue Nike sweatshirt that matched the sweatshirt seen on the surveillance video. The suspect was identified as Chase Wilson and was arrested on September 27, 2022.