Man, 40, arrested in killing an off-duty Howard County deputy in South Baltimore
BALTIMORE -- Baltimore Police announced on Saturday that its officers had arrested a suspect of killing an off-duty Howard County deputy in Federal Hill.
Jewel Crowder, 40, of Baltimore, was taken into custody by S.W.A.T and the Warrant Apprehension Task Force around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, according to the Baltimore Police Department.
BPD announces arrest in homicide of Howard Co. Sheriff Deputyhttps://t.co/mWOwa2tueg#PublicSafety #BPDEnforcement #BPDArrests pic.twitter.com/zdeqRqRzmm
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) September 30, 2023
Crowder has been charged with first-degree murder.
The shooting took place outside of Wayward Bar and Kitchen, located at 1117 South Charles Street.
"This unfortunate incident is a great loss to the law enforcement community, his family and friends, and each of us," acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley said.
Police said that shortly after 12 a.m., two groups of individuals got into a verbal and physical altercation at the bar—right inside the front door.
Wayward security staff removed both parties, and the alteration moved to the outdoor seating area in front of Mother's, an adjacent restaurant and bar.
That's where police say 23-year-old Ryan Demby was shot four times in the torso.
Medics arrived shortly after and rushed Demby to Shock Trauma, where he was pronounced dead.
"While the circumstances surrounding what happened are still being investigated, the entire incident was caught on camera," Worley said. "That along with witness testimony enabled us to act quickly to identify the suspect."
Demby was an off-duty Howard County Sheriff's deputy.
"He just finished the academy in March, and I knew he was a good person and good young man. That's why I chose to put him through the academy," Howard County Sheriff Marcus Harris said. "He simply wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. His father has over 30 years of experience on the job he's a sergeant with the sheriff's department, and I'm going to truly miss him and his father's interactions within our agency."
Gov. Wes Moore also made a statement on Demby's killing.
"My heart goes out to the friends, family, and colleagues of Ryan Demby–and all those who knew him and loved him. In raising his hand to serve as sheriff's deputy, he made the courageous choice to protect our communities–and should still be with us today," Moore said in a statement Friday.
Anyone with further information relating to the shooting should contact Baltimore homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.