SILVER SPRING, Md. — A Silver Spring man may spend the majority of his life in prison after pleading guilty to murder in a deadly dispute sparked by a missing pet.
On Tuesday, 21-year-old Lawrence Marshall IV pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and using a handgun during a violent crime in Montgomery County Circuit Court before Judge Margaret Schweitzer.
The charges stem from a July 5, 2023, altercation at an apartment on Lockwood Drive, where Marshall got into a heated argument with his mother’s boyfriend, 40-year-old Cedric Warner. The conflict was reportedly over Marshall’s dog, which had gone missing. Witnesses said Marshall blamed Warner for the dog’s escape and ultimately shot him multiple times, killing him.
As a result of the plea, Marshall faces up to 60 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for August 28, 2025.
