Following a string of arguments that might have been about to lead to a lawsuit, police in York County detained a man in connection with the ambush murder of his business partner in Maryland, according to authorities.
According to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Austin P. Potocki, 30, of Hanover, waited for a pickup truck driven by Benjamin Billings and fired at it on the morning of December 13 at Wesley Road and Patapsco Road in Finksburg, Maryland.
Billings was discovered dead at the site, according to the authorities. The truck’s occupant, who was also one of Potocki’s business associates, was shot in the arm and sent to a hospital.
Despite searching the crime site, investigators were unable to locate any bullet casings from the murder weapon, which they believe to be a rifle chambered in.223 caliber. According to the sheriff’s office, the gunman is thought to have utilized a device to capture spent shot casings in order to prevent leaving evidence at the scene.
Investigators were given the names of potential targets by the injured passenger. The sheriff’s office claims that Potocki was interviewed a few days after the incident and was subsequently named as the main suspect.
Through his pool firm, Austin’s Pool Service, investigators said they discovered Potocki had a business tie with Billings and the truck’s passenger. According to the sheriff’s office, a text exchange between the men suggested the passenger might have been on the verge of bringing a lawsuit.
The family of Billings told WBAL TV that he owned Monzter Earth Movers LLC, a landscaping and excavating business connected to Legacy Pool and Spa near Finksburg, the scene of the murder.
According to the sheriff’s office, they executed several search warrants at Potocki’s residence in Hanover and at storage facilities he leases in Pennsylvania. Investigators claimed that Potocki was at the area around the time of the shooting based on digital evidence gathered from computers and cell phones.
According to the sheriff’s office, Potocki left in a car he had parked close by after firing several bullets at Billings’ pickup truck from east of the crossroads.
According to West Manheim Township police, their officers helped Carroll County detectives create and execute search warrants and monitor Potocki’s residence. The same type of firearm used in the murder was found by police, along with shell casings that they claim Potocki attempted to destroy at his house.
Potocki was apprehended by West Manheim on Monday. He is being jailed on homicide and attempted homicide charges at York County Prison pending extradition to Maryland.
During a press conference on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees displayed a picture of Austin Potocki.Sheriff of Carroll County
Morgan Billings, Billing’s brother, told WBAL TV that he was working in Carroll County at the time of his death and that he traveled for business.
Ben had no adversaries. Since the pool industry is primarily a retail one, I suppose there will occasionally be grumpy employees. But Morgan Billings told reporters, “I’m not blaming anyone.” I simply cannot think of anyone who didn’t like Ben when they first met him.
According to Morgan Billings, who spoke to the TV station, his brother loved animals and was regarded as a kind and compassionate person. He claimed that when he saw a car accident while traveling, Billings had saved lives several times.
Morgan told WBAL TV: He is so kind and self-described as not a people person, but he nonetheless manages to always be helpful to others around him. I sometimes call him a silent hero kind of person.
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