Basketball Game Shooting Victims Mourned With Severn Vigil, Funeral Fundraiser

SEVERN, MD — A Friday vigil remembered the victims of last week's shooting during a Severn basketball game. A fundraiser has collected thousands for one of the victim's funerals.

The teary-eyed crowd honored 23-year-old Derrick Purcell Ahmad McDonald of Severn and 28-year-old Mack Samuel Galloway III of Glen Burnie. McDonald went by DRose and Galloway was nicknamed Buck, WMAR reported.

"I think we sat out here a couple hours and watched him laying on the ground over there," McDonald's mom, Emaani Wilson, told WMAR. "I'm still like a little numb, and I'm hurt. I'm hurt, hurt. That's my baby, I held him for nine months, pushed him out standing up."

The mother of Galloway's children, Chameeka Thomas, told WMAR she will remember him as a dedicated father.

"Loving, always so protective over everyone we're just gonna miss him and we love him," Thomas told WMAR.

To see why McDonald will be remembered as a "crazy, goofy, supportive" soul, read WMAR's story.

A fundraiser is collecting donations for McDonald's funeral scheduled for March 29. The GoFundMe said McDonald "had so much life ahead, so many dreams left unfulfilled, so much love still to give."

"No family is ever prepared for such a devastating loss, and during this time of unimaginable grief, we are also facing the overwhelming cost of laying Derrick to rest. As we navigate this difficult time, we want to give him the memorial that reflects the love, kindness and light he brought into our lives," fundraiser organizer Quiera Henson of Rosedale wrote.

The GoFundMe had collected $8,526 from 132 donors as of 11 a.m. Monday. The goal is $17,000. Donations are still being accepted here.

"We are asking for your support to help cover funeral expenses and provide relief to the grieving family. Any donation, no matter the amount, will make a difference and ease the burden during this heartbreaking time. If you [are] unable to give, sharing this fundraiser would mean the world to us," Henson said.

Related: 2 Dead, 2 Hospitalized After Targeted Severn Shooting: Police

Police said the Tuesday shooting stemmed from a dispute during a basketball game on the court at the end of Meade Village Road.

Officers said the conflict "escalated to an exchange of gunfire between several subjects."

Authorities said the shooting, which happened around 7 p.m. in the 8100 block of Meade Village Road, also left two people hospitalized. Both are expected to survive.

Police said they found an uninjured male driver and a shot male passenger in a vehicle nearby at Pioneer Drive and Jacobs Road.

"The two individuals in the vehicle located at Pioneer Drive & Jacobs Road had called 911 within minutes to report the incident and their involvement with the shooting. Officers observed damage to the vehicle consistent with gunfire. Both of these individuals have been cooperating with detectives on this investigation," the Anne Arundel County Police Department said in a Friday update.

Authorities said another adult male victim was not shot, but he was hurt "by a possible metal fragment resulting from the gunfire."

Police think the shooting was targeted, not a random act of violence.

"Detectives are working toward understanding what started the dispute, determining who started the exchange of gunfire, and if any other individuals were involved. Detectives are in consultation with the Anne Arundel County State Attorney’s Office regarding this investigation," Anne Arundel County Police said.

Officers asked anybody with information to call 410-222-4731. Tipsters can stay anonymous by dialing 410-222-4700.

"Detectives believe there are additional witnesses to this incident and ask that anyone with information that could help this investigation contact them," Anne Arundel County Police said.

Informants can anonymously contact the Metro Crime Stoppers, an independent investigator that collects tips and shares them with detectives, by:

• Visiting metrocrimestoppers.org
• Calling 1-866-7-LOCKUP (1-866-756-2587)
• Using the P3 Tips mobile application
• Texting CRIMES (274637), then entering the message starting with "MCS."

This map shows the area where authorities said the shooting happened.