17-year-old killed in shooting at mall in Maryland suburb | KMMO

A 17-year-old was killed in a shooting at a mall in suburban Baltimore and Washington over the weekend. Police said the shooting occurred Saturday in the food court area of ​​the mall at Columbia in Howard County, Maryland. Authorities said they received a call about gunshots in the food court area of ​​the mall around 6:10 p.m.

Howard County Police said officers found a male victim who had been fatally shot, identified as Angelo Little of Columbia. Authorities said Little was killed by a suspect after at least one shot was fired “during an altercation between two people” in the mall’s food court. Police also determined those involved in the shooting fled the mall, and investigators believe the victim was targeted. No arrests have been made, and police added that the investigation is ongoing.

Police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said during a press conference on Saturday evening: “We do not believe this was a random incident and we believe the victim was targeted. We have no information about a previous relationship between the two, but our preliminary evidence indicates this was not a random incident.” Llewellyn said police were trying to identify those involved in the incident and were escorting customers out of the mall in small groups to ensure investigators could speak to any potential witnesses: “There’s actually no security reason why we’re escorting them out instead of opening the doors and letting everyone come out at once. It’s actually investigative reasons.”

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said: “I am aware of the current situation at the Mall in Columbia. Our Howard County Police Department is actively investigating and will provide updates as information becomes available.”

The mall in Columbia resumed normal hours on Sunday. In a statement, it said: “We are extremely dismayed that these individuals chose our center for a targeted act of violence. We pride ourselves on being a safe place for the community to shop, dine and entertain. Our center has a comprehensive and robust security program that is continually evaluated to meet the needs of our customers. We would like to thank our security team and the Howard County Police Department for their quick response.”

Officials in Howard County are investigating the incident. Police are offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information about the suspect or the shooting. Anyone with information should contact police at 410-313-STOP or [email protected].

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