3 Adults, 1 Teenager Dead In Joppatowne Murders-Suicide: Sheriff

JOPPATOWNE, MD — Authorities said Devin Brown, 34, of Baltimore fatally shot three family members at a Joppatowne apartment, then killed himself Saturday. No motive for the shooting has been determined, so far, but there no ongoing threat to the community, the Harford County Sheriff’s office said.

The victims in the apparent murder-suicide are Brown’s mother, Sherlyn Ann Pitts, 65, of Baltimore; her niece, Sheena Yvonne Smothers, 38; and her son, a 17-year-old boy.

According to a news release, Brown and his mother went to the apartment to visit Smothers, and at some time during the visit, Brown produced a gun and shot the three family members before turning the gun on himself.

Deputies received a report of an active shooter at 11:18 a.m. in the 300 block of Trimble Road. Within two minutes, Harford County deputies arrived and entered the apartment, where they confirmed multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. The three adults were confirmed dead at the scene, the teenager was severely injured.

A deputy trained as a tactical medic evacuated the teen from the active crime scene and began providing emergency care. The boy was taken to Shock Trauma, where he later died from his injuries.

“(It’s) another tragic day for our Harford County community,” Harford Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said to WBAL TV. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those families that are going to be impacted in these horrific losses.”

The investigation was assumed by detectives from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division. Investigators from the Forensic Services Unit responded to collect and preserve physical evidence in support of the investigation.

Anyone with information about this crime, or who may have video of the incident, is asked to call Detective Logan Thumma, with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, at (443) 567-7201