Victim identified after shooting at the Mall in Columbia leaves one person dead

ONFIRE-TV.com – Howard County police have identified the victim in yesterday’s fatal shooting inside the Columbia mall as Angelo Little, 17, of Columbia. Police are offering a reward of up to $5,000. Officials report you may remain anonymous.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police at 410-313-STOP or [email protected].

According to authorities, officers worked to evacuate mall attendees in an orderly fashion and the mall was fully cleared by 9:00 p.m.

A man is dead after a shooting inside The Mall in Columbia on Saturday.

According to Howard County police, there was an altercation at the mall’s food court around 6:10 p.m. followed by at least one gunshot. The man died at the scene, and no other injuries were reported.

“We are still working to confirm his identity; however, based on the preliminary information and evidence of the officers and detectives have located, we do believe that this victim was targeted,” Howard County police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said. “This is a situation where we believe that there was an altercation between two people. This was not something that our investigators believe was a random incident or an accident. This is something we believe was intentional.”

Police said there were no signs of an active shooter.

“There is no ongoing danger,” Llewellyn said. “We believe that the people involved in this incident left the mall property, and we are in the process of actively escorting people out of the mall to make sure they are safe and for their own personal security.”

At 8:45 p.m., police were still evacuating shoppers who sheltered in place in the mall for hours while investigators spoke with witnesses.

“I was inside American Eagle and I heard a shot. I thought it was above me, but I realized that it was actually right next to me, and then, I saw people running, and that’s when I just started running with the crowd,” Jonathan Kim, a shopper, told 11 News. “It’s tragic.”

“Our first thought was, ‘No way this happens in Columbia. This isn’t the kind of area where there would be like gunshots and stuff like that.’ So, we just thought we were overreacting,” Brandon Hall Delawder, a shopper, told 11 News. “I guess it just goes to show it can happen anywhere, doesn’t matter the area.”

Witnesses told 11 News they heard one shot and then saw panicked crowds running.

“We thought something just fell. It just sounded like a chair fell or something. It was just really loud,” Tara Little, a shopper, told 11 News. “It’s kind of crazy to think about.”

Businesses in the mall knew what to do after the shooting based on learnings from after an active shooter incident in 2014.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-313-STOP.

Deli meat sample from Maryland tests positive for listeria, health officials say

ONFIRE-TV.com – A sample of deli meat collected in Maryland tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, state health officials announced Friday. In a statement, the Maryland Department of Health said it issued a consumer advisory for Boar’s Head ready-to-eat liverwurst and other deli meat products due to possible Listeria contamination, saying consumers should not currently eat the products.

State health officials said further testing of the sample — an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store — is needed, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, to determine whether it’s linked to an outbreak investigation of Listeria monocytogenes infections reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The listeria outbreak was first reported last week. Since late May, 34 people were sickened across 13 states — including six in Maryland — with all but one hospitalized. Two people died — in Illinois and New Jersey.

Symptoms of Listeriosis may include fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. After exposure, symptoms usually appear within three days to 10 weeks, but most often within three weeks. Anyone who experiences symptoms are advised to immediately speak with a health care provider.

An estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Six Marylanders have been identified with a known illness as of July 19, according to MDH.

Federal Hill residents frustrated by dirt bike activity despite crime reductions

Recent statistics shared by the Baltimore County Government reveal a promising yet contrasting trend in crime reduction across Charm City.

The data shows a 36% decline in the number of homicides and a 30% reduction in non-fatal shootings compared to the same time last year.

According to the report, the Baltimore County Police Department has cleared over 63 percent of homicide cases to date, which they say exceeds the national clearance rate, which averaged approximately 50 percent as of 2020.

Police Commissioner Worley credits these positive changes to various factors, including greater community cooperation and proactive efforts by law enforcement.

He also emphasizes that officers are increasingly patrolling on foot rather than from their patrol cars.

However, despite the reduction in violent crimes, some residents continue to face other challenges.

Brian, a 35-year-old resident of Federal Hill, expressed his frustration with the dirt bike activity in his neighborhood in an interview with WBAL Radio’s Chris Cichon.

In April 2024, the state’s attorney for Baltimore City and the Baltimore police commissioner announced the effort to stop illegal dirt bike activity.

According to officials, fines for parents, guardians, and businesses could be issued if they allow or have knowledge of minors dirt biking in Baltimore.

“As the weather warms up and illegal dirt bike usage increases, we need to explore every option to curb these activities,” said Police Commissioner Richard Worley.

“It is a nuisance, disruptive to our neighborhoods, and detrimental to our residents’ quality of life. To businesses who are knowingly aiding these dirt bike riders: You are adding fuel to the fire and will be cited.”

In April, BPD had seized 29 dirt bikes and ATVs. Now, officers can issue citations to service stations and other businesses that sell fuel to dirt bike riders. If violated, businesses could face:

  • First offense: $250
  • Second offense: $500
  • Third offense: $1,000

Parents or guardians of youth dirt biking could face:

  • First offense: Diversion for parenting classes or other resources
  • Second offense: $250
  • Third offense: $500
  • Subsequent offenses: $1,000

Riding or fueling a dirt bike in the city is against city ordinances, under Police Ordinance 40, “no service station nor any other person may sell, transfer, or dispense motor fuel for delivery into any dirt bike, unregistered motorcycle, or similar vehicle.”

Police investigating 2 fatal vehicle accidents in Baltimore

ONFIRE-TV.com – Police are investigating two fatal vehicle accidents that occurred in Baltimore Friday evening.

The first crash happened in Fells Point just before 5:30 p.m. that resulted in the death of a 44-year-old man.

Officers said they were advised that the bicyclist, a 44-year-old man, was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of South Caroline Street and Bank Street.

After being struck by a vehicle, the bicyclist was ejected off of the bike, hit another vehicle that was stopped and finally came to rest after hitting a third vehicle, police said.

The bicyclist was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officers said.

All three vehicles remained at the scene.

The second crash occurred just before 9 p.m. in southeast Baltimore that resulted in the death of a 28-year-old man.

Officers said they responded to a three-vehicle crash in the 3900 block of Pulaski Highway.

Upon arrival, police said they were advised that a vehicle traveling eastbound collided into two westbound cars.

The driver of the striking vehicle, a 28-year-old man, was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. The occupants of the other two vehicles suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information regarding either incident is asked to call police at 410-396-2606 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.