DPW Employee Accused Of Killing Coworker Turned Himself In

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The manhunt is over. Cipisirono Cole, the Baltimore Public Works employee accused of gunning down his coworker, is in police custody.

Amy Yensi has the latest.

Police had been warning Cole they would track him down, urging him to surrender. Those pleas were answered Saturday night when he turned himself in.

After eluding police for nearly three days, Cipisirono Cole is behind bars. Authorities say Cole turned himself in Saturday. Cole is accused of shooting and killing coworker Darrin Johnson Jr. inside the Public Works facility on Fulton Avenue where they both worked.

Johnson's family and close friends gathered outside the building to honor him as his accused killer surrendered to police.

"He was a good guy, always smiling, happy and we miss him very much," said Johnson's cousin, Akeena Jeffries-Chew.

Police had been desperately trying to track Johnson's shooter since Thursday morning. Before his arrest, police had harsh words for Cole.

"We didn't name this person public enemy number one but he's certainly at this point a public enemy number one," said TJ Smith, Baltimore City police.

Police say the trouble between the two men had been brewing for weeks. The ongoing dispute turned deadly when Cole, who worked for the city for 25 years, pulled the trigger.

Johnson's family describes the father of three as a hard-working family man who mentored teens in Baltimore City. They deny any claims that he taunted Cole, setting him off.

"Absolutely not. From our understanding, we definitely know that he tried to diffuse the situation and he walked away," Jeffries-Chew said.

Cole is no stranger to the law. Court records show the 47-year-old has been charged with assault and disorderly conduct in the past; he's now facing first and second degree murder charges, as well as handgun charges.

Johnson's family says they're making funeral arrangements.

DPW Director Rudy Chow issued a statement saying the entire department is shocked and saddened by the "tragic violence" at the Park Terminal facility.