Teen Suspects In Man's Fatal Shooting Appear Before Judge

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Prosecutors said in court Tuesday they believe two teens charged with murder in connection to the shooting death of Kendrick McLellan, 26, in Columbia Oct. 12 planned out the armed robbery and killing.

The two boys aged 14 and 17 appeared Tuesday in Howard County Circuit Court facing first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors said in court they also believe the case involved armed robbery with possibly thousands of dollars of cash stolen during the incident, according to WBAL. Police previously said McLellan and the teen suspects knew each other.

McLellan was found in the driver's seat of a vehicle around 2:14 a.m. Oct. 12 by Howard County Police who were making routine checks in the area. The vehicle was parked in the 8800 block of Centre Park Drive. McLellan had multiple gunshot wounds, Howard County Police said. Prosecutors previously said the gun used in the slaying belonged to McLellan and was modified to work like a machine gun.

The 17-year-old boy, later identified as Tracee Octavious Parker, was arrested Oct. 15 around 12:45 p.m. at Howard High School where he was a student. He also had a loaded gun in his backpack and was wearing an ankle monitor when arrested for an incident in another jurisdiction. He is under the supervision of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Howard County Police said. The teen has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder and other charges.

Howard County Police arrested a second suspect — a 14-year-old boy from Severn — in this case. He was taken into custody at his high school in Anne Arundel County the next day.

Both teens were indicted on Oct. 23.

Authorities said in the 2023 case connected to Parker, 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’s trial date should be set at a court hearing next week. The 14-year-old’s trial will start March 24, 2025.