Howard County Police to share update on deadly shooting of teen in Columbia Mall

CBS News

7 days ago

Howard County Police and U.S. Marshall's are announcing an update in the investigation of a shooting that happened inside The Mall in Columbia last year that left a teen dead.
Last summer, police said William Marshall III, 17, of Columbia was wanted for first-degree murder, and related charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Angelo Little on July 27.
The shooting happened after an altercation near the mall's food court, police said.
Marshall, who also goes by "Junior", specifically targeted Little, according to police.
Police issue warrant for teen suspect's arrest
After the shooting, police circulated a picture of Marshall, asking the public to help aid in the search. Maryland law typically does not allow the release of a juvenile suspect's identification, even when charged; however, exceptions are made in cases where public safety is at risk.
In addition to the picture, police also released a video showing Marshall running through several corridors of the mall, including the housekeeping hallway.
Police said Marshall was a student at Oakland Mills High School but had not attended school in 2024.
Mother grieves loss of 17-year-old Angelo Little
After the shooting, Charell Wilson, Angelo's mother, detailed the moment when she learned that her son had been tragically gunned down.
"It was like a bad dream I'll never wake up from," Wilson told WJZ.
Wilson recalled her last conversation with her son before he left for the mall. She told him to put together a list of things he needed for the start of school.
He was preparing to begin his senior year at the Homewood Center in Ellicott City.
Wilson said she remembered her son as a "gentle giant" with dreams of becoming a chef. Little loved cooking and would often invite friends over to taste test his creations, she said.
She also told WJZ that she was not expecting to lose her son to gun violence in Columbia.
Columbia struggles with rise in youth violence
Howard County Police data shows a rising trend in homicides. There were five homicides in 2023, and nine in 2024.
In Oct. 2024, a 17-year-old student at Howard High School was arrested at school with a loaded firearm in his backpack. He was later charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 26-year-old Kendrick McLellan, whose body was found in a vehicle behind a Columbia office complex.
On Feb. 22, 2025, another shooting near the Mall in Columbia left two teens dead.
Michael Roberston, 16, was shot and killed around 5:52 p.m. A 15-year-old teen was hospitalized after the shooting and died days later.
Roberston was a sophomore at Wilde Lake High School, while the other teen victim was a freshman attending Oakland Mills High School.
Police arrested 18-year-old Emmetson Zeah in connection with the incident, charging him with murder. At the time, Zeah was already facing charges for a previous attempted murder and had violated the terms of his home detention.
In January, a 17-year-old was fatally shot during an attempted robbery in Columbia. Four suspects, including three teens, were charged in that incident.
In April, County Executive Calvin Ball announced the Youth Engagement Strategies Council (YES), aimed at youth engagement and violence prevention.