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Howard County cops seek suspects in 2 shootings, one fatal
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Howard County (Map, News) - Howard police are investigating two weekend shootings, one fatal, that happened within 24 hours in a quiet Columbia community.
Jason Batts, 23, of the 6200 block of Painted Yellow Gate in Columbia, was shot to death about 2:50 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Stevens Forest Apartments, in the 5800 block of Stevens Forest Road in Oakland Mills, police said. He died at the scene.
In what police called an unrelated shooting, Wayne Hamlin, 24, of the 5900 block of Harpers Farm Road, was shot in the shoulder in a group dispute about 1:12 a.m. Sunday in the 5800 block of Thunder Hill Road, police said. Hamlin was treated and released from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center on Sunday morning.
Police said two groups were involved in a dispute before Hamlin’s shooting, and witnesses saw a group of people running into an apartment on Thunder Hill Road.
Residents were evacuated from neighboring apartments and taken to a nearby police satellite office while officers entered the apartment in question.
Police questioned people in the apartment, but no charges had been filed Sunday.
Batts’ friends and family gathered outside his house Saturday in an upscale Columbia community off Snowden River Parkway. They declined comment.
Neighbors said Batts and his twin brother, Brandon, haven’t been in the neighborhood much since they graduated from Long Reach High School in 2002.
“[Jason] was always telling a joke and making people laugh,” said Alexandra Hall, 18, Batts’ neighbor and former classmate.
Sunny Bhatia, 24, who graduated with Batts, also remembered him for his sense of humor.
Court records show Batts had pleaded guilty in 2002 to a handgun violation and drug possession and was sentenced to three years in prison, with all but nine months suspended.
Batts’ death marked the second homicide in Columbia this year. Bryan Antoine Adams Jr., 20, of Columbia, was shot to death April 9 on a sidewalk in front of the shopping center at Wilde Lake in the 10400 block of Twin Rivers Road.
Columbia had five homicides in 2007, none of them in Oakland Mills.
cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:34 PM MST on Wed., May. 21, 2008 re: "Shootings shatter peace in Columbia community"
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3:01 PM MST on Wed., May. 21, 2008
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3:24 PM MST on Tue., May. 20, 2008
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1:22 PM MST on Mon., May. 19, 2008
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11:09 AM MST on Mon., May. 19, 2008
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9:35 AM MST on Mon., May. 19, 2008
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Columbia Resident said:
Quote from article: Batts was still alive when police arrived about 30 minutes later, Lott and other residents said, but by the time the ambulance pulled in, he was dead. Question: Why did it take 30 minutes to get a response from the police when they have a satelite office directly across the street from the shooting location? Question: Why do we see 2, 3 and sometimes 4 police vehicles sitting in one location, talking, instead of patroling? These are questions that need real answers. The residents are not only concerned for their safety, they are also concerned about the emergency response time. It took 30 minutes for the police to arrive and the ambulance came after that. More than 30 minutes for an ambulance is not acceptable.
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A cold hearted brotha said:
I'm not really surprised either it's just the way some people live their lives. I'm from West Baltimore, i'm 19 and i've been seeing this all my life. My family moved to Columbia thinking it was gon be a lot safer. They were right, no matter where you are there is always going to be some kind of crime rate. The media just rated my home town the most dangerous city in the country for men! That's something to be disappointed about being a young man myself. Hundreds of people die from murder every year in my city. They even tried to make it look like entertainment on "The Wire". A lot of people say how discusted they are about this young man that jus past but i know when "The Wire" is on they right there at dat T.V. thinkn its a game, when it hit da county all of a sudden its serious! STOP BEIN A HYPICRIT N TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, for REAL! did i spell hypicrit right? it don't matter you get my drift. R.I.P all MY homeboys who died in this struggle for LIBERTY! We miss Y'ALL!
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long-time Columbian said:
Not at all surprised! Oakland Mills & Long Reach have ALWAYS had problems because of too much low income. Other murders/crimes happen in these places but the press usually leaves out the "low income" part of their stories. I've seen crime get worse and worse over the years (35) as more and more Section 8 housing infiltrates our villages. I guess that would be the County government's fault for allowing it to become so rampant and way beyond a reasonable amount!
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Anonymous said:
I graduated with Jason and Brandon, and agree that this area has had a steady flow of homicides involving young people in the last 8 years. Just last year my friend's brother was murdered a few miles from where Jason was shot. I live in a condo near Tamar drive, and and I hope that I can be a positive influence where I live. Seeing this happen again to someone I have a connection to reminds me of how much more needs to be done in this place.
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Howard County Stinks said:
I'm moving to Baltimore to get away fom all of the high prices in Columbia, at least it's cheaper to live there for the same nonsense. What a dump it has become. Overpriced ghetto.
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Examiner Reader said:
The Stevens Forest Apartments located on the east side of Columbia is not known by law abiding residents in Columbia as a "quiet" community. Frankly, it is a replica of what goes on in Baltimore City.
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