CARROLL COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES INDICTMENT FOR SECOND- DEGREE MURDER AND USE OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME OF VIOLENCE FOR A SHOOTING THAT OCCURRED IN MANCHESTER ON APRIL 28, 2024
On Thursday, May 16, 2024, a Carroll County Grand Jury indicted Jose A. Manchame on two counts, Second Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence in connection with the shooting and killing of Mauricio Guzman-Leon on April 28, 2024, at 4900 Hanover Pike in Manchester. Manchame is facing a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on the Second-Degree Murder count, and up to 20 years in prison, with 5 years mandatory with no parole, for the Use of a Firearm count.
It is alleged that on April 28, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m., the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack responded to a shooting incident at 4900 Hanover Pike in Manchester. Investigators learned that the victim, Mauricio Guzman-Leon, 18 years old, was driven to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department in Westminster by his brother, Rudy Guzman-Leon, age 23. Mauricio was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and was transported by helicopter to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, but later died from his injuries on May 4, 2024.
Investigators responded to the Sheriff’s Department and met with Rudy, whereupon they learned that Rudy and Mauricio went to 4900 Hanover Pike in Manchester to retrieve mail belonging to Rudy or to “pick up his government card,” but that an argument then occurred and thereafter the brothers left the property. When the brothers subsequently returned in the late afternoon, one of the residents, who Rudy identified as Jose Angel Manchame, age 41, shot at him and his brother, and that while driving away from the scene of the shooting in search of assistance that he was involved in a car crash. Witnesses at surrounding residences reported hearing five gunshots coming from 4900 Hanover Pike before seeing a silver sedan speed away from the property, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department responded to two separate collisions in the area near 4900 Hanover Pike involving a silver sedan.
Investigators at the Sheriff’s Department observed a silver Chevrolet Malibu bearing Maryland plates 2FP1454. The vehicle had three small holes, consistent with bullet holes, on the driver’s side. Investigators observed two bullet holes near the driver’s side mirror and one hole at the top of the windshield, and a bullet in the front passenger seat. Investigators also observed a large amount of blood on the passenger seat headrest and seat back.
Rudy described Manchame as wearing a light-colored shirt, possibly white, and blue pants, possibly jeans, and told investigators that he knew Manchame prior to this incident, citing that Rudy and Manchame’s son are friends. That same evening, when Manchame surrendered to law enforcement, he was wearing a light-gray shirt and blue jeans.
Maryland State Police obtained and executed a search warrant for 4900 Hanover Pike and transported witnesses back to the Westminster Barrack for interviews that same night. Multiple witnesses identified Mauricio and Rudy as familiar to them and identified Rudy and Mauricio as instigators of arguments at the residence at several different times throughout the day.
On April 29, 2024, Maryland State Troopers interviewed Manchame who described Rudy and Mauricio coming to the residence and leaving several times the day before and accusing him of stealing government documents that were sent to the address in the mail. Manchame stated that Rudy made several verbal threats toward him. Rudy eventually left in his silver Chevrolet sedan, and returned later in the evening with Mauricio when a party was going on at the residence with twenty to twenty-five people present.
Manchame further stated that Rudy and Mauricio returned to the property for a final time at 5:00 pm., and that Rudy was driving in circles through the grass and around the property and eventually parked the vehicle on a driveway to the rear of the house and exited the vehicle. Manchame stated that Rudy was trying to pick a fight with him and his nephew. Manchame stated that he entered his residence and retrieved a loaded .38 revolver while Rudy and Mauriclo returned to their vehicle but continued to refuse to leave. Manchame stated that in an attempt to get them to leave, he fired five shots from the revolver toward the silver Chevrolet. Manchame later revealed the whereabouts of the .38 revolver, which was recovered by Maryland State Police.
Manchame is being held without bond pending a June 14, 2024, initial appearance in the Circuit Court for Carroll County. Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker remarked, “I commend the Maryland State Police for its quick response and thorough investigation of this shooting that resulted in the death of a young man. My office will be no less determined and diligent in prosecuting this matter to its fullest.”
Individuals who are charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Area of the incident: “4900 Hanover Pike in Manchester”
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