Three shot, one dead, in two separate shootings near Columbia Mall

BALTIMORE — Two teenagers were injured and one man died in two shootings Saturday at nearby locations in Howard County.

According to Howard County police, a man in his 20s was found shot to death in a parked vehicle behind an office building in the 8800 block of Center Park Drive in Columbia around 2:14 a.m. Officials say he is from Baltimore but has not otherwise been identified.

Around 9:10 p.m., two teenagers, ages 16 and 17, were injured in a shooting in the parking lot of the nearby Giant Food at the Columbia Palace Shopping Center, police said. According to the dispatch call, this happened between Bank of America and Giant.

“It’s crazy because Columbia isn’t known for this kind of thing, but now, especially this year, it’s popping up a little more often,” Columbia resident Bill Houseal said. “It’s kind of scary that it’s becoming more common.”

Houseal, a father of two, said he wasn’t sure what led to the increase in crime.

“It’s an expensive area, so I don’t know if they need to increase police patrols here or what, but I guess you have to keep your eyes open. This can happen anywhere these days,” Houseal said.

Police do not believe there is a connection between the shootings. Investigators are searching for the suspects in both incidents.

This incident happened across the street from Howard High School and some neighbors said it worried them because their children attend the school.

“It’s frightening. You don’t expect something like that in this neighborhood,” said Jim, of Columbia. “It’s not a downtown area, it’s not a high-crime area.”

Anyone with information about the shooting should call police at 410-313-STOP or [email protected].