Second teen arrested in connection with Columbia homicide
A second teenager has been arrested in connection with last week’s homicide in Columbia, Howard County police said. A 14-year-old Severn boy was taken into custody Wednesday at Chesapeake High School in Anne Arundel County and charged as an adult with first-degree murder, Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.The student did not have a weapon on them when they were arrested, according to a letter sent to families and staff at Chesapeake High School.Officials said Anne Arundel County police took the suspect into custody using a warrant from Howard County police. The second teen arrested remains held Thursday without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.Video above: Howard County police announce arrest of second juvenileHoward County Public Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes said at the news conference that the district only knew there was a student from a neighboring county who enrolled in Howard County last spring who was receiving support from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. No other information was disclosed at the time relating to the student’s alleged crimes in the past, Barnes said.Barnes said the district learned after Wednesday’s bail hearing of “very serious alleged violent offenses.” If the information was available, Barnes said he would not have approved a placement for the student at Howard High School. “Good decisions are predicated on accurate data, and I now know that there is important data not available to the school system that informs our placement,” Barnes said.Barnes is creating an advisory group with students, parents, police and other officials to “deeply explore our current safety measures,” and to make suggestions to the Howard County Board of Education.The superintendent also said he asked staff to do case reviews for 48 students who the county is aware of having reportable offenses or previously been detained by DJS.Barnes expressed frustration with the lack of information available to officials about students entering Howard County.Barnes sent a message to staff, students and families on Oct. 17 about next steps.Baltimore man found dead in Columbia last weekKendrick McLellan, 26, of Baltimore, was shot on Oct. 9 in Columbia and his body was found three days later in a vehicle parked behind an office building in the 8800 block of Centre Park Drive in Columbia, Howard County police said.Officers first arrested a teenager on Tuesday on adult murder charges: Tracee Octavious Parker, 17, who remains held without bail at the Howard County Detention Center. Parker is charged with first- and second-degree murder, handgun in a vehicle, handgun on person, handgun use in a felony, dangerous weapon on school property and loaded handgun on person charges.Police said the victim and the suspects were known to each other. A motive remains under investigation.Parker was arrested while he was in attendance at Howard High School and found with a loaded handgun, Howard County police said Tuesday. Prosecutors said the gun belonged to McLellan and was modified to work like a machine gun. The Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office released a statement on the investigation that can be read online here.County police also said on Tuesday that Parker was under the supervision on an ankle monitor by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services in connection with unrelated attempted murder charges in Anne Arundel County from 2023. In that case, the victim nearly died and lost a kidney, part of his colon and small intestine. He also had to have a foot amputated, spent more than four months in a hospital and is now paralyzed, prosecutors said.Video below: Judge deems teenage suspect too dangerous to release on bailThe Howard County Public Schools System told 11 News DJS did not inform Howard High School administrators or the district about Parker’s being monitored. A district representative told 11 News: “No, we did not receive any official disclosure.” The district released a statement on the investigation that can be read online here.A group of Baltimore City community association leaders, residents and business owners sent a letter Wednesday afternoon to the governor, demanding the immediate removal of Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi.”DJS Secretary Schiraldi has shown in his nearly two-year tenure that his policies and procedures harm society,” the letter states, calling the number and severity of juvenile crimes unacceptable.In a statement, McLellan’s mother said: “My son was a funny, outgoing, caring father. He was my all. My son would give anything to anybody. I’m hurt that he died a senseless death and these kids need to be held accountable. I want to thank everyone for all the work they did to make these arrests and for all the prayers. At this time, I request that the media respects my family’s privacy.”WBAL-TV 11 News reached out to DJS and governor’s office for comment but neither responded as of Thursday afternoon.Video below: Letter calls for removal of DJS secretary
A second teenager has been arrested in connection with last week’s homicide in Columbia, Howard County police said.
A 14-year-old Severn boy was taken into custody Wednesday at Chesapeake High School in Anne Arundel County and charged as an adult with first-degree murder, Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
The student did not have a weapon on them when they were arrested, according to a letter sent to families and staff at Chesapeake High School.
Officials said Anne Arundel County police took the suspect into custody using a warrant from Howard County police. The second teen arrested remains held Thursday without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.
Video above: Howard County police announce arrest of second juvenile
Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes said at the news conference that the district only knew there was a student from a neighboring county who enrolled in Howard County last spring who was receiving support from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. No other information was disclosed at the time relating to the student’s alleged crimes in the past, Barnes said.
Barnes said the district learned after Wednesday’s bail hearing of “very serious alleged violent offenses.” If the information was available, Barnes said he would not have approved a placement for the student at Howard High School.
“Good decisions are predicated on accurate data, and I now know that there is important data not available to the school system that informs our placement,” Barnes said.
Barnes is creating an advisory group with students, parents, police and other officials to “deeply explore our current safety measures,” and to make suggestions to the Howard County Board of Education.
The superintendent also said he asked staff to do case reviews for 48 students who the county is aware of having reportable offenses or previously been detained by DJS.
Barnes expressed frustration with the lack of information available to officials about students entering Howard County.
Barnes sent a message to staff, students and families on Oct. 17 about next steps.
Baltimore man found dead in Columbia last week
Kendrick McLellan, 26, of Baltimore, was shot on Oct. 9 in Columbia and his body was found three days later in a vehicle parked behind an office building in the 8800 block of Centre Park Drive in Columbia, Howard County police said.
Officers first arrested a teenager on Tuesday on adult murder charges: Tracee Octavious Parker, 17, who remains held without bail at the Howard County Detention Center. Parker is charged with first- and second-degree murder, handgun in a vehicle, handgun on person, handgun use in a felony, dangerous weapon on school property and loaded handgun on person charges.
Police said the victim and the suspects were known to each other. A motive remains under investigation.
Parker was arrested while he was in attendance at Howard High School and found with a loaded handgun, Howard County police said Tuesday. Prosecutors said the gun belonged to McLellan and was modified to work like a machine gun. The Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office released a statement on the investigation that can be read online here.
County police also said on Tuesday that Parker was under the supervision on an ankle monitor by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services in connection with unrelated attempted murder charges in Anne Arundel County from 2023. In that case, the victim nearly died and lost a kidney, part of his colon and small intestine. He also had to have a foot amputated, spent more than four months in a hospital and is now paralyzed, prosecutors said.
Video below: Judge deems teenage suspect too dangerous to release on bail
The Howard County Public Schools System told 11 News DJS did not inform Howard High School administrators or the district about Parker’s being monitored. A district representative told 11 News: “No, we did not receive any official disclosure.” The district released a statement on the investigation that can be read online here.
A group of Baltimore City community association leaders, residents and business owners sent a letter Wednesday afternoon to the governor, demanding the immediate removal of Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi.
“DJS Secretary Schiraldi has shown in his nearly two-year tenure that his policies and procedures harm society,” the letter states, calling the number and severity of juvenile crimes unacceptable.
In a statement, McLellan’s mother said: “My son was a funny, outgoing, caring father. He was my all. My son would give anything to anybody. I’m hurt that he died a senseless death and these kids need to be held accountable. I want to thank everyone for all the work they did to make these arrests and for all the prayers. At this time, I request that the media respects my family’s privacy.”
WBAL-TV 11 News reached out to DJS and governor’s office for comment but neither responded as of Thursday afternoon.
Video below: Letter calls for removal of DJS secretary
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