baltimoresun.com

Associated Press

9:36 PM EDT, April 4, 2011

Authorities say a former Baltimore City police officer has been charged with murder after the shooting death of his neighbor on Kent Island.

The Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney’s Office said the charge was filed Monday against Charles E. “Pete” Richter in the death of Mark Xander, 55.

The statement says the neighbor was shot during an altercation after Xander’s dog went on his property. Authorities say arriving deputies and paramedics founder Xander with a gunshot wound laying in his yard with his dog, a Rottweiler, beside him. They say relatives took charge of the Rottweiler so authorities could approach.

Queen Anne’s Sheriff’s spokesman Dale Patrick said Xander was pronounced dead at an emergency center and a pistol was recovered.

Reports say Richter, 66, was a Baltimore City officer from 1965 to 1978.