NEWS RELEASE
HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
For Release: July 10, 2009
Contact: Sherry Llewellyn
(410) 313-2236
Police investigating non-fatal shooting in Columbia
Police offering $1,000 reward
Police offering $1,000 reward
Howard County police are investigating a shooting that occurred Thursday night in Columbia. The victim, 18-year-old Keontae Johnson of the 6500 block of Overheart Lane, is in stable condition at Shock Trauma after being shot in the torso.
Police were called to Johnson’s residence around 7:30 p.m. for a report that he was injured. Through investigation, police believe two groups of teenagers, including Johnson, became involved in a fight near a basketball court in the 6700 block of Cradlerock Way. During the fight, someone fired a handgun, striking Johnson. Johnson went home and a friend called 911.
Detectives are still investigating the cause of the dispute. Police are offering a $1,000 reward and are asking anyone with information to call 410-313-3200.
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4 comments:
And people say Columbia is such a nice place to live.
Oh yes, Columbia has been and still is a lot better place to live as compared to surrounding suburbs, and hope it continues to remain safe from these isolated incidents.
Four decades of residing here has been pretty good.
There are good, bad and ugly no matter where one resides, and Columbia is seeing a surge in such unfortunate incidents as the population increases.
Parents should also be vigilant when it comes to kids activities as to what, where and why they do whatever they do, while in this instance the victim surely would know more about the culprits that may all still be under investigation.
I do hope & pray that Columbia remains a safer place to live as my third generation grows up as a part of this beautiful community.
Columbia has been getting worse each year. People refuse to believe that there are gangs here. There are gangs here and you do have to watch your back, it is just not as noticeable as other areas.
Being a resident of Columbia since the early 70's, I have see a drastic change, although it could be much worse.
I agree that the parents need to be more proactive in their childrens lives, such as schooling, the friends they choose and even what they are doing and where they ae going when they leave the house. Meet the parents of the children that your child hangs out with, no matter how old, that is important.
I know the young man that got shot and he is a good boy, so I cannot imagine what would have escalated the situation enough for some coward to feel that a weapon was needed. What happened to fighting with your hands, if it has to come to that. Why is it that one has no problem with the realtion from gun, to shooting it, to actually KILLING another human being.
If you have that much anger, join the military and get trained to channel that anger and fight for your country. Stop killing your fellow AMERICANS, our own people.
What is your problem young people?
I'm torn about this place. My heart goes out to the families and to the individuals involved in the most recent extreme violence in our neighborhood.
I am torn because I feel deeply connected to Columbia, to Owen Brown, to Dasher Green Elementary and to Owen Brown Middle (now known as the experimental Cradlerock School). What troubles me is that if I don't feel like I want to stay in this community then there is no hope for it to prosper in the spirit Columbia was founded in.
I have daily interaction with families on my street and in various neighborhoods and I agree that things have changed since 1973 when my family first moved here.
"Gangs" aren't only young people willing to commit acts of violence, they are also adults willing to cast their eyes downward and turn away as they approach their 'neighbors.' These kind of willful acts of unkindness are as cancerous and infectious as traditionally recognized gang behavior. This kind of social decay spreads every time a child sees it portrayed or spoken by parents, coaches, or other people in leadership positions.
Choose Civility is a fine campaign, but the idea must live in people's hearts and minds (speaking of military service) if this place is to continue to function as a beautiful community. I cannot claim to be fully vested as my eldest child doesn't even attend HCPS. Why? Because my wife and I have not come to terms with the drastic changes we witnessed within the walls of 'our' school when we moved back here in 2006. But that's another thread...
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