The killer of David Rosenbaum, the award-winning NYT journalist, has confessed. 23-year old Michael Hamlin was spotted in several retail store cameras making purchases on Rosenbaum's credit card. This evening he confessed to killing Rosenbaum last Friday evening in the 3800 block of Gramercy St., NW in Washington, DC.
The local DC/MD/VA news programs all ran video of the accused during its evening programs. Just hours later, the man turned himself in.
The 23-year old, a maintenance worker, was seen in one of the retail videos wearing his work jacket. He reportedly charged some $1,300 on Rosenbaum's credit card, including tires and car parts for his Cadillac.
The credit card was used shortly after Rosenbaum's death and repeatedly until Sunday.
An early
AP story notes the arrest:
District of Columbia police arrested a suspect Thursday night in the death of New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum, who was beaten and robbed Friday near his Northwest Washington home.
The arrest came hours after investigators released surveillance videos showing a man who may have used a credit card stolen from Rosenbaum.
NewsChannel 8 has more from another AP report:
D.C. police say they've caught the man who killed New York Times reporter David Rosenbaum last Friday during a robbery in Northwest Washington.
Investigators say 23-year-old Michael Hamlin of Southeast Washington turned himself in this evening, shortly after police released surveillance video showing him using a credit card stolen from Rosenbaum. He was initially curious about why his face was on television. But police said once they began questioning him, he confessed to the attack.
Hamlin has been charged with felony murder.
NBC4
adds:
Michael Hamlin, 23, of Washington, saw one of the broadcasts and went to the 7th District police station "inquiring why his face was on TV," said Metropolitan Police Detective Anthony Paci.
Hamlin arrived at the police station around 6:20 p.m. EST and confessed to the crime shortly thereafter, Paci said.
...
Asked why Hamlin turned himself in, Morris said, "Stranger things have happened." Hamlin told police he would show them where he hid the weapon, Morris said.