Maryland Funeral Home Owner Charged With Murder at 10-Year-Old Girl’s Burial
The owner of a Maryland funeral home has been charged with murder after a shooting at the burial of a 10-year-old girl. The incident occurred at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home in Prince George’s County, where mourners had gathered to pay their respects to Arianna Fitts, who had passed away from cancer.
According to witnesses, the funeral home owner, 68-year-old Calvin Rodriguez, became agitated during the service and began yelling at mourners. At one point, Rodriguez reportedly grabbed a gun and fired several shots, hitting a man attending the service.
The victim, who was not identified, was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. Rodriguez was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.
The incident has left the community in shock, with many expressing their disbelief that such a tragedy could occur at a funeral service.
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“It’s just unbelievable,” said one mourner. “We’re here to pay our respects to a little girl who lost her life, and now we have another life lost because of this senseless act of violence.”
Funeral Home Owner’s Troubled Past
The incident has also brought attention to the troubled past of the funeral home owner. According to court records, Rodriguez has a history of mental illness and has been involved in several violent incidents.
In 2015, Rodriguez was charged with assault after he attacked a man with a baseball bat. The victim, a former funeral home employee, suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized for several weeks.
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Rodriguez was also involved in a shooting in 2017 when he fired a gun at a man arguing with him outside the funeral home. No one was injured in that incident, but Rodriguez was charged with reckless endangerment.
Despite his troubled past, Rodriguez was still allowed to operate the funeral home, which has been in business for over 50 years. The incident has raised questions about regulating funeral homes in Maryland and whether more needs to be done to ensure the safety of mourners and employees.
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The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. In the meantime, the community is left to mourn the loss of two lives and grapple with the senseless violence that occurred on a solemn occasion meant for grieving and remembrance.
