OVERLEA, Md. (February 8, 2011) — What was initially thought to be a single vehicle crash on the Baltimore beltway turned into multiple counts of attempted second degree murder filed against a Baltimore County man who was allegedly trying to strangle the woman he was with in the backseat of the car they were traveling in early yesterday.
The accused is identified as Augustus Jung-Kai Gray, 25, of Parkville, Md. He is charged with three counts of attempted second degree murder, five counts of first degree assault, five counts of second degree assault, two counts of malicious destruction of property, motor vehicle theft, theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, DUI, and other traffic charges. As of late yesterday, Gray was being held in the Baltimore County Detention Center on $500,000 bail.
Shortly after 2:00 a.m. yesterday, Maryland state troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack responded to what had been reported as a single-vehicle collision on the outer loop of I-695 prior to I-95. Troopers found two men and two women, outside a 2002 Ford Explorer. One of the men, later identified as Gray, was being restrained by the owner of the vehicle, a man identified as Francis Thomas.
Thomas told troopers he and girlfriend were in the front seat of his truck and they were driving Gray and his girlfriend home after leaving a party in Baltimore County. Thomas said Gray began strangling his 23-year-old girlfriend in the back seat. Thomas said he told Gray to stop and he complied, but soon began choking her again and opened the passenger door while attempting to push her out of the moving vehicle. Thomas said he pulled to the shoulder of the interstate and all four of them exited the truck.
According to Thomas, Gray then said he was going to kill them all and jumped into the driver’s seat of the truck. Thomas was able to get into the rear seat and attempted to stop Gray. The suspect then apparently drove the truck across the beltway and struck the median barrier. He then backed the vehicle across the interstate towards the two women standing on the shoulder. They were able to get out of the way before the truck crashed into the barrier on the right shoulder. Thomas then drove back across the highway and struck the median barrier before the truck became disabled. Thomas said he was able to pull Gray from the truck and hold him until troopers arrived.
Troopers said Gray appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and also had other injuries to his face and head not consistent with the crash he had just been in. Further investigation revealed he had been involved in several altercations earlier in the evening.
Troopers had Gray transported to the hospital for an examination. He was treated and released about 5:00 p.m. yesterday. The other three individuals had minor injuries, but refused any treatment.
Source: MSP HQ, Pikesville