Roll of Honor
Elizabeth Licera Magruder
Incident
Private First Class Elizabeth Magruder and Sergeant James Arnaud were shot and killed while attempting to serve a psychiatric petition on an individual in a home in the 9300 block of Lynmont Drive in Adelphi at 9:30 p.m.
The suspect retreated to a rear bedroom and opened fire with a handgun. Sergeant Arnaud was shot in the throat, and Private First Class (PFC) Magruder was shot in the back of the head. The suspect fled the scene following the shootings but was arrested two days later after undercover officers spotted him coming from an apartment building approximately two miles from the scene of the shooting. The handgun used in the murders was recovered from the suspect as well.
The suspect was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and using a handgun in the commission of a felony in November 2003. In September 2005, the convictions were overturned on appeal, and the suspect was ordered to face a new trial. He was again convicted during the second trial and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In December of 2023, he was released from prison.
The murders of Sergeant Arnaud and PFC Magruder were the first line-of-duty deaths for the department in its 306-year history.
PFC Magruder had served with the Prince George's County Sheriff's Department for 18 months.
Survivors
She is survived by her husband and 3-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-A8CE8D8A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Private First Class Magruder gave the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Largo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private First Class Magruder.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private First Class Elizabeth Licera Magruder is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 51.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Prince George's County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elizabeth Licera Magruder's cause is highlighted.
How Elizabeth Licera Magruder Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elizabeth Licera Magruder is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elizabeth Licera Magruder was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Prince George's County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
