Howard Police Chief William McMahon said the shootings in Oakland Mills this past weekend weren’t related to gangs or drugs, but conceded to gang activity in the county.

He told more than 100 residents at a Tuesday night meeting at the Other Barn in Columbia that about 300 people in Howard are known gang affiliates, and 20 to 25 of them are recognizable gangs, including the Bloods and Crips.

“Some are hard-core, absolutely,” he said.

McMahon said the department is being proactive and requested funding from the county government in next year’s proposed operating budget for an additional gang unit officer.

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“We’re not out of control here, but we don’t want to be where some other jurisdictions have been, where we turn a blind eye,” he said.

Suspicions of drug and gang activity arose after Jason Batts, 23, of Columbia, was shot to death Saturday morning outside Steven Forest Apartments, marking the county’s second homicide this year.

Less than 24 hours later, Wayne Hamlin, 24, of Columbia, was shot in the shoulder on Thunder Hill Road.

Police charged Ronald “Rock” McConnell, 21, with first- and second-degree murder in connection with Batts’ death.

Charging documents indicate McConnell “ordered the homicide over an ongoing dispute,” and police are investigating the possibility of additional suspects being involved, said police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn.  

Dan Singer, 64, of Stevens Forest, asked at the meeting why the men would be in the community at 3 a.m. if they are not Stevens Forest residents, but police could not provide an answer.

“If you don’t live there, I’m calling 911,” said Tina Johnson, 60, of Stevens Forest, who regularly calls police to report groups of about 15 young men gathered in the parking lot.

“If you have a good reason to be there, you can show the police some ID.”

Johnson requested police patrols between midnight and 6 a.m. this summer when youths are more likely to be outside at night.

McMahon said school resource officers will be freed this summer to help in the community, adding that school staff members are trained in recognizing gang signs.

“I see kids at my school who idolize the big gangs like the Bloods and Crips, and that whole lifestyle,” said Alex Urban, 17, a Howard High School student, who said cliques of youths commit petty crimes to be like larger gangs.

Urban said joining the Army’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Howard High gave him a sense of brotherhood that many youths seek in a gang.

“It really helped out in my life,” he said.

“It could keep kids out of gangs.”

cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com