A man has been charged with the murder of a police officer who was found dead in her Maryland apartment nearly 30 years ago. Amir Jalil Ali, the boyfriend of Officer Denna Fredericka Campbell, was arrested on Tuesday and faces a first-degree murder charge. Campbell, 24, was discovered shot five times in her Silver Spring apartment on September 16, 1995. At the time, she was a four-year veteran of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

Authorities reported that Campbell's department-issued handgun was missing from the scene and has never been recovered. Ali, who was known as Kenneth Burnell Wonsom at the time, initially faced murder charges shortly after Campbell's death. However, those charges were dropped two months later, and the case went cold.

Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy stated he does not know why the original charges were dismissed. "I was not privy to, nor do I know, what the conversation was regarding why the charges were dropped at that point in time," he said during a press conference.

Police Chief Marc Yamada announced the recent arrest, calling it a significant development in a long-standing cold case. "While this arrest won't erase the pain of losing Denna, we hope that it brings some resolution and sense of peace to everyone involved," Yamada said.

According to police reports, Ali claimed he left the apartment around 3 a.m. on the day of the murder to go to a store. He returned to find Campbell unresponsive and called 911, alleging a burglary had occurred. However, detectives found no evidence of a break-in and believe Campbell was shot with her own gun.

Investigators have since gathered more evidence, including DNA that suggests Ali may have been injured during a struggle with Campbell. Colleagues of Campbell reported that she had expressed fear of her boyfriend and had been keeping her service weapon under her pillow for protection. One colleague recalled Campbell saying, "If I don't show up for work Saturday, you'll know he killed me and buried me somewhere."

Detective Paula Hamill spoke with Campbell's father following the arrest. "The only words that he could get out were, 'Thank God,'" she said. Campbell's mother passed away several years after the incident.

Montgomery County police have been revisiting the cold case for about a year, conducting new interviews and gathering additional details. Executive Assistant Chief Andre Wright praised Campbell's bravery, recalling her heroic actions in 1993 when she rescued four victims from a burning van. "Those actions proved Officer Campbell was ready to place the safety of those in the community above herself," Wright said.

Ali is currently being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center, awaiting a bond hearing.