Man Charged with Shooting Pregnant Girlfriend and Her 4-Year-Old Daughter

Baltimore County police have charged a man in connection with the shooting deaths of his pregnant girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter

In a press conference in Towson on Wednesday, police Chief James Johnson announced the arrest of Brian Lamont Eggleston Jr., 28. Police have charged him with first-degree murder in the deaths of Alicia Avery, 25, and daughter Darry'el Parker.

"We believe that this is our suspect, and he has been charged at this time," Johnson said.

Eggleston is currently held in Baltimore City, where he was arrested on Monday on unrelated drug distribution charges. Johnson said county police will take him into custody after those charges have been processed.

Avery and her daughter had not been seen in several days when, at approximately 4 p.m. on Monday, police came to check on them in their apartment in the Welcome Inn complex in the 8700 block of Loch Bend Drive. That's .

Within "12 to 15 hours," Johnson said, police concluded that the deaths were related to a domestic disturbance. He said witnesses told police that Avery and Eggleston had frequent arguments.

The state medical examiner has ruled both deaths a homicide. Avery and Parker had both been shot, and an autopsy revealed that Avery was pregnant. Johnson said Wednesday it was unclear if Eggleston was the father of the unborn child or children (An aunt told the Sun that she was three months pregnant with twins).

"We are awaiting the results of medical examination and the medical examiner's opinion on this case," Johnson said, adding that police may add a third charge for fetal homicide.

The Baltimore Sun reported that Avery was a witness in a city murder case. Johnson confirmed she had been relocated there by the city, but said her role did not appear to have anything to do with the killings.