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Police make arrest in Laurel homeless man's murder

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005

Police arrested the suspect in the Nov. 6 murder of a homeless Laurel man within minutes after police arrived at the scene.

Police charged Michael Andre Blanchard, 47, of Laurel with the homicide of the man after he was found to be in possession of the murder weapon.

The victim, whom police have not yet named as they are attempting to locate and notify his family members, was a white man in his 30s who was homeless in the Laurel area, said Laurel police spokesman Jim Collins.

Police received a call at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6 of a stabbing at Elizabeth House, a nonprofit organization that helps and feeds homeless people at 308 Gorman Ave.

Upon arriving, officers found the victim lying in the street at Thomas Drive and Gorman Avenue, suffering from multiple stab wounds to the torso and chest area. He had no vital signs, and was transported to Laurel Regional Hospital where he died.

Police said the man had attempted to intervene in a domestic dispute between Blanchard and a woman inside Elizabeth House. The interaction turned confrontational, and the two men went outside, where it escalated. The victim had a chain in his hand, and Blanchard had a knife, with which he allegedly stabbed the victim, Collins said.

When officers arrived, they began searching and Cpl. Gary Fairall spotted Blanchard walking on the sidewalk at Laurel Shopping Center. Fairall apprehended Blanchard without incident.