2nd Teen Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Baltimore Man In Columbia

COLUMBIA, MD — Howard County Police have arrested a second suspect — a 14-year-old boy from Severn — in the fatal shooting of a Baltimore man. The victim was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds Oct. 12 in a vehicle behind an office building in Columbia.

The Severn teen was taken into custody at his high school in Anne Arundel County Wednesday afternoon, according to Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der, who spoke at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

The 14-year-old suspect is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center, WBAL reported.

The student did not have a weapon in his possession when he was arrested, according to a letter sent to families and staff at Chesapeake High School. Officials said during the news conference that Anne Arundel County Police took the Severn teen into custody on a warrant from Howard County Police.

Kendrick McLellan, 26, was found in the driver's seat of a vehicle around 2:14 a.m. Oct. 9 by Howard County Police, who were making routine checks in the area. The vehicle was found in the 8800 block of Centre Park Drive.

Tracee Octavious Parker, 17, from Ellicott City was arrested in McLellan's death Tuesday around 12:45 p.m. at Howard High School, where he is a student. He also had a loaded gun in his backpack. He was wearing an ankle monitor when arrested because of unrelated attempted murder charges in Anne Arundel County from 2023.

Parker is under the supervision of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Howard County Police said.

Prosecutors said the gun used in the slaying belonged to McLellan and was modified to work like a machine gun.

Authorities said in the 2023 Parker case, the victim nearly died and lost a kidney, part of his colon and small intestine. He also had to have a foot amputated, spent more than four months in a hospital and is now paralyzed, prosecutors said.

Parker has been charged as an adult with first- and second-degree murder, handgun in a vehicle, handgun on person, handgun use in a felony, dangerous weapon on school property and loaded handgun on person charges.

Police said McLellan and the teen suspects knew each other. A motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

Parker is being held without bail at the Howard County Detention Center, WBAL reported. A judge ruled Parker is too dangerous to be released on bail and too dangerous to be around other children.

Parker's public defender pushed for the boy's transfer to a juvenile facility, but prosecutors opposed the idea, citing Parker's juvenile history.

McLellan's mother made a statement that was shared by the Howard County Police Department.

“My son was a funny, outgoing, caring father. He was my all. My son would give anything to anybody. I’m hurt that he died a senseless death and these kids need to be held accountable. I want to thank everyone for all the work they did to make these arrests and for all the prayers. At this time, I request that the media respects my family’s privacy," she said.