A Columbia neighborhood is reeling from a domestic-related homicide that claimed the lives of an elderly couple. Howard County police arrested DiAngelo Smith, 33, yesterday after responding to a report of gunshots at the residence. Smith, now facing two counts of first-degree murder and related charges, was found in possession of a gun at the scene and is currently being held without bail at the Howard County Detention Center.
According to details released by the Howard County Police Department, officers arrived at the 6300 block of Red Haven Road to quickly find Smith in a vehicle parked outside of the home, gun in hand. An updated report identifies the victims as Jack Dee Stokes, 78, and Barbara Stokes, 65, Smith's grandparents, with whom he was residing. The grim discovery of their bodies, both bearing gunshot wounds, upended the quiet of the community.
The investigation, still ongoing, has yet to unveil a clear motive behind the tragic incident. "The motive remains unclear; the investigation is ongoing," states the Howard County Police Department's official news release.
