The Frederick Police Department has charged 87-year-old Irwin Joseph Dickstein with murder following the death of his roommate, Michael Roy Bushnell, at a residence on Franklin Street. The incident came to light on September 20, 2026, when the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office alerted the FPD that Dickstein had allegedly confessed to shooting Bushnell to a witness.
Officers responded to the Unit Block of Franklin Street for a welfare check, discovering the residence unsecured. Upon entering the home, they found Bushnell, 63, deceased. FPD quickly identified Dickstein as the suspect and located him at a different location, where he was taken into custody without incident. He is currently being held at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.
Dickstein faces serious charges, including one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder. Authorities believe that the incident was isolated and do not consider there to be an ongoing threat to the community. The investigation remains active, and FPD has not released additional details to protect its integrity.
Residents with any information regarding the case are encouraged to contact Detective Stephen Radtke at 301-600-3321. The police department also expressed gratitude to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance during the initial response to the incident.
Read the original article at City of Frederick