A Sunday morning shooting in Westminster ended in tragedy when police found two people dead inside a home on E. Main Street, in what investigators are calling an apparent domestic-violence-related murder-suicide.
Officers were called to the residence around 8:29 a.m. after a caller reported a shooting and said a family member had been shot.
Police Response And Scene
Westminster officers, along with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, moved in quickly, setting up a perimeter while they interviewed the caller and tried to contact anyone inside. According to Fox Baltimore, the caller told police that one adult family member had shot another adult family member, then left the home with the firearm. As officers worked to secure the scene, E. Main Street was temporarily shut down.
How Crisis Teams Responded
When repeated attempts to reach anyone inside the house went nowhere, officials escalated their response. Around 8:43 a.m., the Carroll County Sheriff's Office activated both its Crisis Response Team and Crisis Negotiations Team. The Crisis Response Team made entry into the home at about 9:59 a.m. and found two adults dead inside, according to WMAR2 News.
Where The Investigation Stands
The Westminster Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau is now leading the case, with support from the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit and the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office. Investigators say they are treating the incident as domestic-violence-related and stress that there is no ongoing threat to the public, as reported by Fox Baltimore.
What Police Are Releasing
Authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Westminster Police Department at 410-848-4646, email [email protected], or submit tips through the department's tip line, with contact details available on the Westminster Police Department website.
Resources And Context
Maryland uses a Lethality Assessment Program to help first responders quickly identify people at high risk of serious harm and connect them with advocates and services, according to the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.
For those in immediate danger or seeking help with domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 and online at thehotline.org. House of Ruth Maryland also operates a 24-hour hotline at 410-889-7884.
If someone is in a mental-health crisis or considering self-harm, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988. The Crisis Text Line is also available by texting HOME to 741741.
