$5K Reward For Tips Offered After Man Fatally Shot Getting Into Vehicle In Parking Lot

COLUMBIA, MD — Police are investigating a fatal shooting that happened late Tuesday night in Columbia and offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Around 10:35 p.m. Aug. 19, Howard County Police were called to a parking lot off of Dove Sail Lane and Merriweather Drive for a report of a shooting. They found a man in a vehicle who had been shot multiple times, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the scene, which is near the Merriweather Post Pavilion music venue in the city’s Merriweather District.

The victim has been identified by police as Leon Grant, Jr., 39-year-old, from Salisbury who was staying in Columbia.

Witnesses told police that a man approached the victim as he was getting into the vehicle and shot him at close range before fleeing. Police do believe the shooting was targeted, the department stated.

There is no additional information available from the police department at this time.

Anyone with information should contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov.