Latest news with #CrimeReductionPlan
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Maryland teen wanted for murder at Columbia mall arrested in New York City
HOWARD COUNTY, Md. () — A teen who was wanted for murder in connection with a shooting at the was arrested in New York City, according to the Howard County Police Department (HCPD). Police announced on Thursday, May 31, that 18-year-old William Marshall III, was taken into custody for the murder of 17-year-old Angelo Little. 'I am proud of the outstanding, tireless work of everyone involved in this search, including HCPD officers, U.S. Marshals and our HCPD social media team,' said Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der. 'There was true creativity and ingenuity that resulted in this apprehension. We aren't immune from crime in Howard County, but if you commit a crime here, we will catch you and bring you to justice, no matter how long it takes.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE | HCPD searching for 17-year-old boy wanted for murder in connection to Columbia Mall shooting On the evening of July 27, 2024, Howard County police officers were called to The Mall in Columbia for a shooting, where they found Little, who had been shot. He died at the scene. Throughout the investigation, detectives from the mall allegedly showing a man dressed in all black with a dark mask covering his face. As the video continues, the man is seen sitting at a table in the food court with his head down. Once Little begins walking to the bathroom, the person follows him. According to police, he then waited for Little to leave the bathroom, and that's when he fired one shot before running through the back door. About a month later, detectives identified Marshall, who was 17 at the time, as the suspected gunman. He was charged with first-degree murder. Their investigation determined that Marshall, also known as 'Junior,' knew Little and targeted him. Since 'Crime Reduction Plan', Howard County PD reports no gun-related violence near Columbia mall For several months, authorities were unable to locate Marshall. Despite this, officials continued to conduct extensive interviews. Investigators also tracked down hundreds of tips, reviewed digital evidence, conducted hours of surveillance and traveled to multiple states. As the search for Marshall intensified, the U.S. Marshals joined the police department's search. The case had a break in late May of 2025, when detectives received a lead that Marshall was in New York City. During the overnight hours of May 28, authorities searched a building in Brooklyn, NY, where they apprehended Marshall. 'This was a collaborative effort with months of diligence, long nights, and communication. After a long road, our hard work has led us to the arrest of William Marshall. We remain committed to ensuring accountability and taking criminals off the street,' said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. As of May 29, Marshall was being held in New York and was awaiting extradition to Maryland. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and officials are working to determine what led up to the shooting. Police noted that detectives are also investigating if someone helped Marshall elude the police; if so, criminal charges will be filed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
15-04-2025
- CBS News
Howard County police moving into The Mall in Columbia to increase patrols in the area
Howard County Police is putting a permanent unit in The Mall in Columbia, part of an effort to increase police enforcement in the downtown Columbia area. This effort started in response to an uptick in violence earlier this year, which included a deadly double shooting near the mall in February. People WJZ talked to on Tuesday were supportive of the police's plans. When 16-year-old Michael Robertson and 15-year-old Blake McCray were shot at a bus stop near the mall on Feb. 22, Maura McMullen was nearby at the Merriweather District. It affected her. "When we found out what it was, it did give you a real feeling of concern for your safety," McMullen said. "[Even when] just walking back to your car." Robertson died that night, while McCray died after spending some time in the hospital. Emmetson Zeah, 18, was arrested and charged with their deaths. This was one of the high-profile cases that prompted police to take more action. After beefing up patrols around the mall as part of the Crime Reduction Plan, the next step is to put a permanent, full-time unit in the mall. The officers will be from the police's Community Outreach and Pathways Section (COPS). Aside from the mall, they'll also be keeping a close eye on the Merriweather District and the Columbia Lakefront. An additional patrol that will be at the mall 24/7 is also on the way. Police report that since increasing enforcement, there have been no reports of shootings or other gun crimes in the downtown Columbia area. Patsy Fratanduono said this is a step in the right direction, seeing the effects that enforcement and policy changes can have. "Since [the mall] changed its policy to have a curfew for kids, I feel like the mall's safer. I believe that more police presence might make more sense for safety," Fratanduono said. Since moving to Columbia a year and a half ago, Dante Young likes to relax at the lakefront when he can. He's supportive of increased enforcement, but he hopes it doesn't go overboard. "Safety is everything, but as long as it's not in your face...I think it's a good thing. I really do," Young said. Police also report that since increasing enforcement, officers have been able to address other crimes more immediately in and around the mall, including making trespassing and theft arrests. "The increased police presence has also enabled officers to address nuisance and quality of life issues, such as disorderly conduct, parking violations, and noise complaints," a news release said. Police have bolstered their partnership with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, or DJS, improving on information sharing, especially with monitoring repeat offenders.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Since ‘Crime Reduction Plan', Howard County PD reports no gun-related violence near Columbia mall
HOWARD COUNTY, Md. () — The Howard County Police Department (HCPD) and County Executive Calvin Ball announced Monday that it has created a new permanent unit to combat violence in Downtown Columbia. This comes after the police department unveiled its new 'Crime Reduction Plan' in February. The plan includes the development of a permanent, full-time unit of police officers to The Mall in Columbia, Merriweather District and Columbia Lakefront areas. DC Health investigating measles exposure at Five Guys in Northwest The department noted that officers will have a full-time satellite office inside the mall and will patrol the area around the mall 24 hours a day on foot, mountain bikes, ATVs and patrol cars. 'Combatting crime and reinforcing the public's sense of safety are the most critical parts of our mission,' said HCPD Police Chief Gregory Der. 'When we see an issue emerging, we make strategic decisions about resource allocation and crime-fighting strategies. We are fortunate that our recently increased staffing levels were approved by County Executive Ball and have enabled us to devote resources where they are most needed.' Man found shot multiple times in Waldorf; investigation underway Officials added that while addressing crime in Downtown Columbia, the police department will focus on developing proactive strategies to stop serious crimes from happening. As part of the initiative, police are also working with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to attend events for the juvenile monitoring program and increase positive interactions with teens in the system. Over the last several months, multiple shootings have taken place in the Columbia area involving teenagers. On Feb. 22, was killed outside near the mall in the parking lot. Several months later, on July 27, was shot and killed while walking out of the bathroom in the mall. 'We continue to work closely with HCPD and other stakeholders to take steps toward implementing strong measures to deter and combat crime in our community, as any act of violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated as the safety of our residents and visitors remains our number one priority,' said Calvin Ball, Howard County executive. 'I applaud Police Chief Der and his staff for all that they do and continue to do to address and combat crime and make Howard County the safest place to live, work, play, grow, and thrive for all.' Since implementing the 'Crime Reduction Plan,' police noted it has not received any reports of gun-related crimes or shootings in the area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
