Story perspectives

Philanthropist Robert Fuller Jr. Shot Dead in Maryland

2/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Robert Fuller Jr., an 87-year-old philanthropist and lawyer, was shot and killed at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility in Maryland.
Police responded around 7:30 a.m. and found him unresponsive with head trauma.
The death is being investigated as a homicide.
Fuller donated $1.64 million to modernize Cony High School's athletic field in Maine.
He was descended from former Supreme Court Chief Justice Melville Fuller, who upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine.

History

Historical Context

The 1896 Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson established the "separate but equal" doctrine, legitimizing racial segregation laws in the U.S. This decision, upheld by Chief Justice Melville Fuller, reinforced systemic racism and persisted until challenged by later rulings like Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. The recent homicide of philanthropist Robert Fuller Jr. underscores ongoing societal issues related to violence and community safety.

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Story summary

Robert Fuller Jr., an 87-year-old philanthropist and lawyer, was shot and killed at the Cogir Potomac Senior Living facility in Maryland.
Police responded around 7:30 a.m. and found him unresponsive with head trauma.
The death is being investigated as a homicide.
Fuller donated $1.64 million to modernize Cony High School's athletic field in Maine.
He was descended from former Supreme Court Chief Justice Melville Fuller, who upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine.

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