The family of Gerrano “Jimmy” Fato, 74, is not convinced that Fato was fatally shot Wednesday night during a botched robbery.
“Nothing was taken; I don’t care what they say,” Maria, one of Fato’s cousins, said, pointing to police who were scattered around the front lawn of 3628 Martins Dairy Circle.
“We believe he was set up,” said Maria, who declined to give her last name because she said she feared retribution. Other Fato relatives, gathered in a tight circle outside the suburban home, nodded in agreement.
Police weren’t answering questions about the possible motive.
“We are unable to rule out that the husband or wife was a target or that this was a random event,” a police spokeswoman said.
Fato and his wife pulled up to the two-car garage a little before 10 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
Family members outside the crime scene said Mrs. Fato told them what happened next after the incident.
Shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, the Fatos arrived home, and Gerrano Fato exited the car to open the garage door, family members quoted Mrs. Fato saying. The wife then spotted two men, one of them with a large gun. She ran into the house through the front door and called the police to report what she believed to be a robbery, according to witnesses who said they had talked with Mrs. Fato. In the meantime, Fato was shot and the suspects fled.
Police said they received the call at 9:56 p.m. and arrived six minutes later to discover Fato’s body. They confirmed that Mrs. Fato made the 911 call and that she reported her husband was being robbed.
Fato was an Italian immigrant who briefly lived in Venezuela before moving to the U.S. in the 1950s. He ran Jimmy Fato Upholstery from his Olney home where he moved in the mid-1990s from Silver Spring.
Family that will remember him as an uncle and cousin gathered outside the home late Thursday afternoon, smiling at times as they recalled fond memories.
Police are continuing their investigation. Anyone with information should call 240-773-5070.
