COLUMBIA, MD – UPDATE (5:45 p.m.): DiAngelo Smith, 33, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and related charges in the shooting death of his grandparents, Jack Dee Stokes, 78, and Barbara Stokes, 65. Detectives believe that Smith was residing at the residence with his grandparents. The motive remains unclear; the investigation is ongoing. Smith is being held without bail at the Howard County Detention Center.
The above update comes from an HCPD press release. This article was updated multiple times as information became available.
The Howard Courier received a report early this morning of two fatalities in a shooting at a home on Red Haven Road in the Sewell’s Orchard community of Howard County, Maryland. The report was initially unconfirmed, but has been confirmed through multiple updates by the Howard County Police Department.
Upon visiting the scene, this reporter found three Howard County Police vehicles parked in the area of the incident with one officer outside the home surveying the situation. Police tape was placed at the residence where the shootings took place.
This article is updated below with full text of HCPD press release:
Howard County police are investigating a domestic-related homicide overnight in Columbia in which two people were shot and killed. The suspect was arrested at the scene.
At approximately 3:07 a.m. on Feb. 24, police were called to a residence in the 6300 block of Red Haven Road for a report of gunshots. They encountered a man with a gun in a vehicle parked outside of the residence and took him into custody. Responding officers then located two adult victims dead with gunshot wounds inside the residence.
Through preliminary investigation, police learned that the man and the victims are relatives and that he shot both before returning to his vehicle.
Editorial Note: This article was updated to correct the street name and the community in which the incident happened. Details not previously known were added. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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