SYKESVILLE, Md. — It was just after 2:00 in the afternoon on Saturday when police converged on a business called Retro Environmental in Sykesville for a report of a possible homicide.
Just across Enterprise Street, Greg Hilliard looked on as marked units arrived.
"I was just working at the shop, taking care of a few things, just washing my car, and then I saw all the police out here on the road,” said Hilliard, “The road was pretty much shut down, but they didn't real tell me too much detail of what was going on."
The following day, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office released more information; deputies found the body of 56-year-old Robert Gurecki on the floor of an office.
The company's website lists Gurecki as its president, but police remain silent on details of the killing, the motive behind it and who might be responsible.
"They haven't come around and asked for surveillance or anything,” said Lori Doyle who works at a nearby residential contracting company. “All we heard is there was a shooting, and we knew about it, because when we came to the office on Saturday, it was all blocked off."
"There's a gun range that's down the road here so I didn't know... I'm kind of immune to gunshots and things like that so it wasn't like I saw or heard anything,” said Hilliard, “I just happened to be out here when everything was going down."
But for now, people who work at neighboring businesses are left to wonder whether a killer remains at large.
"I would hope they would warn us, but we haven't been warned at all," said Doyle.
Though there is concern about future attacks, indications are that the victim was targeted.
"I trust law enforcement. I'm sure they kind of have their eye on someone or are taking care of it,” said Hilliard. “They told me I didn't have anything to worry about, so I feel kind of safe here."
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective O'Meara at someara@carrollcountymd.gov or 410-386-2926.
