Man Arrested Years After Pregnant Woman Fatally Shot, Leading To Baby's Death

COLUMBIA, MD — The suspect wanted in the 2020 fatal shooting of a pregnant woman and the subsequent death of her baby has been arrested, officials said.

Rabiah Ahmad, 30, was 28 weeks pregnant when she was shot in a home in the 6600 block of Dovecote Drive on July 31, 2020. Howard County Police said numerous people were living in the home where shots were fired, and found multiple bullets had been fired into the house.

Ahmad had been living at the home for only a few months and was hit by one gunshot. She was rushed to the hospital, where her baby had to be delivered. The baby, named Ahja, died five days later at the hospital, according to police.

Howard County Police have been searching for the suspect for the past 4.5 years. Detectives learned that Edward Robinson, 31, of Columbia had argued with two people who also lived in the home.

That argument led to Robinson shooting at the house as a warning, police said. Bullets found at the scene were the same caliber as a gun recovered at Robinson's home in Columbia, which was found during a search warrant executed April 9.

That same day, police officers arrested Robinson and charged him with two counts each of first- and second-degree murder and related assault and handgun violations. He was arrested in Gaithersburg and is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center, the police department said.

“Our detectives never rest until they get justice for a grieving family, and today we were able to provide Rabiah’s family with some sense of closure,” Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said. “Nearly five years have passed since Rabiah and baby Ahja’s senseless deaths, and I know it must have felt much longer for their family. Rabiah had an incredibly bright future, and her and Ahja’s lives were taken so callously. I want to commend our detectives for their tireless work and those who came forward to provide the information necessary to move this case forward.”