2 Shootings In Baltimore County Leave Leaders On Alert, But Not Panicked

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County has seen a spike in shootings this year, including two in the past week.

FOX 45 said Friday's homicide in Owings Mills marked the county's ninth of the year. That's more than double the total at this point in 2023, FOX 45 reported.

"I want residents to know that we take these incidents very seriously," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski told FOX 45, noting that crime statistics remain low overall compared to comparable jurisdictions. "Chief [Robert] McCullough and the police department do an outstanding job of finding, arresting, and then state's attorney [Scott] Shellenberger prosecuting these individuals."

The Baltimore County Police Department said 38-year-old Rodney L. Scott Jr. was fatally shot Friday evening in Owings Mills.

Officers said they found Scott dead around 5:28 p.m. outside in the 4700 block of Winterset Way. That's located in the Park at Winterest Apartment Homes.

Hours later, authorities said they heard reports of a Parkville shooting in the 1800 block of Taylor Avenue. That's a busy road flanked by several businesses and a few single-family homes.

Police said they responded to the scene at 1:37 a.m. Saturday, but they couldn't find a victim.

Officers said a man walked into an undisclosed hospital soon after with an injury from the Taylor Avenue shooting.

Authorities have not made any arrests or identified any suspects.

Patch asked police if the shootings were related. We have not yet heard back. We will update this story if they reply.

The county executive said he will do everything possible to fight crime and support law enforcement.

"We actually think we're doing a good job in Baltimore County supporting our officers with things like take-home [cars] and technologies we're investing in our precincts," Olszewski told FOX 45. "We'll keep doing whatever it takes. Public safety is one of the most important jobs we have in local government."

The Baltimore County Police Department asked anybody with information on either shooting to call 410-307-2020. Callers can stay anonymous. Tipsters can also submit information through the county's iWATCH program at iwatch.baltimorecountymd.gov.

The Metro Crime Stoppers, an independent investigator, is also collecting anonymous tips and sharing them with police.

The Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland offered a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information that leads to an arrest on felony charges.

Informants can anonymously contact the Metro Crime Stoppers by:

• Visiting metrocrimestoppers.org
• Calling 1-866-7-LOCKUP (1-866-756-2587)
• Texting CRIMES (274637) and then entering the message starting with "MCS.

Watch Olszewski's full interview on FOX 45.