Man Accused Of Killing DPW Co-Worker Found Dead In Jail

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Baltimore Public Works employee charged with murdering his coworker was found dead in his jail cell.

The killing happened last week at a public works facility on North Fulton Avenue.

WJZ's Tracey Leong has the latest on the investigation.

Sources tell WJZ the former DPW employee took his own life Tuesday night, just days after turning himself in for murdering his co-worker.

Two Baltimore city employees are dead after a violent turn of events in less than a week.

Last Thursday, 34-year-old Darrin Johnson was gunned down and murdered at the DPW building in West Baltimore.

The suspect and his coworker, 47-year-old Cipisirano Cole, who was found dead in his jail cell.

"This is a tragic situation all around," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Cole worked as a city employee for 25 years; and Johnson for 10 year. The shootout stemming from a disagreement between these two men.

"Really simple argument,'' said city police spokesman T.J. Smith, "seems like one was teasing the other."

According to charging documents, Cole retrieved the handgun from his moped and went back into the locker room and shot Johnson to death.

WJZ learned Wednesday that Cole hung himself, but was not on suicide watch.

Cole turned himself in this past weekend for the murder of his co-worker Johnson and then requested to be placed in a single-cell in protective custody in Baltimore's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services facility.

The loss of these lives are felt by Baltimore city employees and beyond.

"Focusing on healing and also making sure we do everything we can to try to prevent something like happening like this in the future," Rawlings-Blake said.

Cole was facing seven charges for killing Johnson, including first-degree murder.

His death is being investigating by the Maryland Division of Corrections and Public Safety.