by HCPD
Howard County police are continuing the search for a group of suspects involved in an August shooting that left a 19-year-old girl injured. Detectives are investigating a possible connection to a robbery that occurred in the same neighborhood that evening and have increased the reward for information to up to $5,000.
Police were called just after 10 p.m. on August 5 for a report of shots fired in the 9000 block of Canterbury Riding in Laurel. Officers responded and located the injured victim, who investigators believe was walking from a parked car when she was hit by a stray bullet. She was taken to Shock Trauma in critical condition but has since been treated and released.
According to witnesses, a group of young male subjects was seen running from the area after the shots were fired. The number of suspects is unconfirmed and no additional descriptions are available.
Officers had been called to the neighborhood approximately three hours earlier by a resident reporting he was approached by three suspects who stole his wallet and phone and forced him to take them to his home. He complied, and the suspects threatened him and others inside the residence with a handgun before leaving. No one was injured.
The robbery victim reported that nothing additional was stolen and described the suspects as black males wearing dark pants and light-colored shirts.
Detectives are investigating the possibility the two incidents may be connected. Investigators canvassed the area, spoke with residents and inquired about home surveillance and doorbell cameras. They have been following up on leads but are continuing to ask for the public’s help in these cases. Anyone with information in either incident is urged to contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.
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