And this weekend Mr. Marsh was found shot multiple times in his car in an Annapolis Housing Authority community.

City police were called to the 1300 block of Tyler Avenue in Robinwood just after 12:30 a.m. yesterday for a report of shots fired. When they arrived, they found a parked 2001 silver Acura Integra with Mr. Marsh slumped behind the wheel. He appeared to be unconscious from a gunshot wound, police said.

Mr. Marsh, who lived on Kensington Avenue in Severna Park, was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he was pronounced dead at about 4:30 yesterday morning.

Officer Hal Dalton, a city police spokesman, said information on where Mr. Marsh was shot and how many times is not being released. Mr. Marsh's family said he had been shot multiple times at the scene.

This is the third homicide in the city this year, putting Annapolis on track to break last year's record of eight homicides. Police said they have no suspects or a motive at this point.

Mr. Marsh's sister, Monda Marsh, of Annapolis, said she has an idea of what happened. She said during his struggles, her brother would at times turn to drugs to "self medicate."

She said she believes her brother was in Robinwood that morning to buy drugs to help him deal with his mental illness.

"Due to his bipolar, he was self medicating - he struggled with substance abuse," Ms. Marsh said. "And that's what his doctor said."

Mr. Marsh was born in Milwaukee and was the son of a military officer, his sister said. He lived in Severna Park for 40 years and attended the Severn School, Key School, and Anne Arundel Community College. He was currently studying to become an electrician.

But it was woodworking that was Mr. Marsh's true passion, his family said. He was known around the Severna Park community as a "master woodworker," Ms. Marsh said.

"He did all sorts of remodeling - he could do anything with wood," she said. "He didn't work fast, but his work was of quality and I know that even yesterday people were coming over to tell my mom what beautiful things he had done. He just connected with wood, and he could make wood come to life."

Mr. Marsh mainly worked independently, making cabinets, furniture, and railings.

"He was quite brilliant, except for his illness," Ms. Marsh said. "All in all, I think people could see his gift."

One person willing to overlook Mr. Marsh's mental illness was Hal Quayle, owner of Quayle and Co. Design Build in Severna Park.

Mr. Marsh worked for Mr. Quayle for about a year, doing "some little stuff off and on."

"I guess he had gotten his ability from his dad," he said. "He did woodworking (also) as a hobby."

Mr. Marsh worked as a carpenter for Mr. Quayle's business.

"Sometimes he would not show up a couple of days because maybe he had a bout," Mr. Quayle said. "But my clients liked him, people enjoyed working with him."

Ms. Marsh said her brother was devoted to his friends and family, taking care of his 80-year-old mother Nell Marsh who lived with him, Ms. Marsh said. Mr. Marsh was a "gentle giant" when he had his disorder under control, his sister said.

Mr. Marsh's death has been hard on everyone in the family. But Ms. Marsh is happy he's "at peace now."

"It's been a long, long struggle," she said.

The first two homicides in the city were last month at 29A Bens Drive just before 11 a.m. Jan. 18.

The victims, identified as Charles Cully Jr., 29, of Marcs Court, and Cecelia Brown, 51, of 29A Bens Drive were killed by gunfire, police said. Earlier this month, police released a sketch of a man they said played a part in the double homicide, although they said they still have no motive.

"It's unpredictable," Officer Dalton said of the city's current homicide numbers. "You can talk about a record, but I've seen three or four happen in one month and then none. You can never predict it."

Mayor Ellen O. Moyer declined to comment by phone on the homicide, instead requesting questions be submitted to her by e-mail.

"This third homicide emphasizes once again the importance of our long-time call for partnerships with State and Federal agencies to help Annapolis control illegal drugs and guns in the city," Ms. Moyer said in an e-mail through City Spokesman Ray Weaver. "We are all weary of the damage that this illegal activity is doing to our children, our families and our community. Facing these challenges will require strength and hard work. Candidly, it will also require that the community and citizens in Annapolis continue to be engaged and stay involved in programs like Neighborhood Watch, which has recently shown great success."