In the early hours of New Year's Day, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) began an investigation into a shooting in Edgewood that left a 21-year-old man injured. According to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office official press release, deputies received a call around 3 AM and promptly headed to a Baltimore area hospital where the victim had been admitted with a gunshot wound to the upper body.
The victim, in the company of a family member who witnessed the event, was shot while seated in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. Engaged in collecting details, deputies learned from said witness that the gunfire came from the suspect who was sitting in the back seat among two others. With the firearm having been drawn from her waistband, the victim was shot as the handgun reportedly discharged. Subsequently, after the suspect and two witnesses decamped from the scene and the vehicle, the driver took the victim to the hospital. The victim remains hospitalized and could not provide information about the suspect to deputies.
The case has since escalated to the HCSO Criminal Investigations Division, with the Forensic Services Unit joining in the investigative efforts. A search and seizure warrant was obtained for the vehicle, leading to the discovery of a loaded, unserialized handgun and further evidence. Detectives affirmatively noted an apparent bullet hole in the passenger side dash, with the corresponding bullet also being acquired within the vehicle.
A suspect has been pinpointed amidst the ongoing investigation, with charges expected to follow soon. While specific details about the suspect remain withheld, the HCSO affirms that additional information will surface once charges have been filed and served. The incident raises grave concerns about the circulation of "ghost guns," firearms lacking serial numbers, which complicate law enforcement efforts to track weapons and solve crimes.
