Ex-Official Indicted on Murder Charges

Washington, who was born in Houston, joined the Army at 18. According to his résumé, he is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and has extensive training in counterterrorism. He worked on and contributed to Johnson's campaign in 2002 and made an unsuccessful bid to unseat County Council member Marilynn Bland (D-Clinton) last year.

The shooting at his home has attracted attention in part because of past abuse complaints against Washington. He has come under investigation at least three times by the Prince George's police department for complaints of assault or "unbecoming conduct" and has been sued at least twice, including once by a D.C. police officer who said that Washington assaulted him and had him falsely arrested.

Marilynn Clark, the mother of the deliveryman who died, said she was heartened to learn of the indictment. "He makes me sick to my stomach," she said of Washington.

Ivey declined to discuss the prosecution's theory of how a furniture delivery led to a double shooting or to address why seven months passed before his office secured an indictment. He said court precedent prevented him from describing the evidence that led the grand jury to believe White over Washington, a police officer of 17 years.

"My dad used to say, measure twice and cut once," Ivey said. "We wanted to make sure we got things right."

The indictment marks the second time this year that Washington has been charged with a violent crime. He was indicted in June on charges of first- and second-degree assault after being suspected of brandishing a gun at real estate appraiser Kevin King, who had mistakenly knocked on the door of his home in April.

Later that month, county officials said, Washington was no longer the homeland security deputy director, although they have not revealed the terms under which he left that job. He was also suspended from his police position.

In a statement to investigators a month after the shooting, White wrote that Washington was combative almost from the moment the deliverymen arrived at his home and that Clark phoned a supervisor to ask for guidance.

White wrote that Washington, displeased with the delivery, shoved Clark, ordering him out of the house. As the men headed for the stairs, White wrote, Washington opened fire.

White, Washington and Washington's wife testified before the grand jury last month.

Last month, Prince George's Police Chief Melvin C. High said that more than 50 witnesses had been interviewed and that investigators spent hundreds of hours gathering and reviewing evidence before turning the investigative file over to Ivey's office.

Michael Winkelman, an attorney for White, Clark's family and King, said Washington's indictment was good news for White and Clark's family, who have waited for months for the outcome of the investigation.

"The waiting has taken a tremendous toll. Although this will likely give some relief to know that the justice system is moving forward, it is certainly not the end," Winkelman said.

White, a convicted felon, said yesterday that he has had two surgeries and can't recall everything that happened in the first weeks after he was shot. He was hit in the right leg and in the torso, and he said he usually walks with a cane and has been unable to work because of his injuries.

He said he is looking forward to a trial. "They're getting ready to listen to what I'm saying," he said.