3 Weekend Shootings In Howard County Under Investigation; Violence May Be Drug-Related, Police Say
COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) -- One man was killed, another is in critical condition and two others were injured in a string of shooting in Howard County over the weekend.
Police said while investigations into the violence are still early, it's possible the shootings are related and the victims might know each other.
"Detectives are looking into whether or not the second two instances were drug-related, and we are also looking into whether victims and suspects in all three cases were known to one another," Howard County Police spokesperson Lori Boone said.
The shootings happened Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.
A man who lives along Monarch Mills Way where the third shooting happened around 1:35 a.m. Monday, said he still has the sound of the gunshots in his ears.
"So there were two shots like tack tack then three more shots continuously," he said. "It was crazy, it was so shattering, it was so scary plus I also heard a guy screaming badly."
Police said 24-year-old Deandre Cummings was shot in the leg but should recover. He has been treated and released from an area hospital.
The shooting Sunday afternoon on Basket Ring Road killed 23-year-old Juan McGraw.
Residents reported hearing a commotion.
"You could see down the street, there was quite a lot of traffic, police cars and people pulled over a lot of activity in one parking area," area resident Charlie Bailey recalled.
The weekend violence started at 8:30 p.m. Saturday on Cedar Lane. Sherod Hogue, 26, was shot and is in critical condition at Shock Trauma. Gregory McGraw, 31, was shot but has been released from the hospital.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information in any of the three incidents should contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov. Those who call or email may remain anonymous.
