Baltimore police arrested an 18-year-old man on Tuesday in the killing of a Marine last year at a downtown hookah bar, one of two recent murder arrests.
Ronald Johnson of the 2100 block of W. Lexington St. was taken into custody Tuesday morning and charged in the July 2, 2010, shooting death of 26-year-old U.S. Marine Sgt. Chase Love, who was visiting Baltimore for the first time with a fellow Marine from the city before redeploying to Afghanistan.
The killing came amid a string of fatal altercations at downtown nightspots in the past year, and Love was one of several active-duty U.S. service members killed over a span of about six months in Baltimore.
Charging documents filed against Johnson last week say that he and Love got into an argument at the Queens Hookah Bar and Lounge on East Baltimore Street. During the argument, Love pushed Johnson, who pulled out a small handgun and shot Love several times, the documents say. Johnson fled the scene on foot, police say.
An officer found Love, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran from New Orleans, with multiple gunshot wounds and lying on the sidewalk in front of the Manasa's Hallmark store next to the hookah bar. He was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he died of his wounds.
After his death, friends remembered Love as a responsible and loving family man living with his wife and two stepchildren in a newly bought home in North Carolina.
Anonymous witnesses of the shooting picked Johnson out of photographic line-ups. He was arrested Tuesday morning in the 1100 block of N. Montford Ave., police said. He has been charged with first-degree murder, assault and handgun charges. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8.
Police also said they have arrested one man and are seeking a second in a New Year's Day stabbing that left one man dead and another injured. Tim Dennison, 20, was arrested Jan. 4 and charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old David Jones in the 1500 block of Hazel St.
Police spokesman Donny Moses said a fight broke out between partygoers at two houses. A 21-year-old man is also being sought on a warrant, Moses said.
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Sun reporter Justin Fenton contributed to this article