5 Dead, Including Gunman, In Baltimore County Shootings: Police

TOWSON, MD — Police said a 27-year-old killed four people and injured a convenience store worker in a string of shootings Sunday that spanned three crime scenes in Baltimore County.

Joshua Green, 27, was found outside his apartment complex Sunday morning in Essex, where police said he shot himself after killing his parents at their home in northern Baltimore County, opening fire at a Royal Farms store in Essex and torching his apartment.

"Baltimore County suffered through a horrific and sickening event," Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said at a news conference Monday morning in Towson. "Right now, frankly, all of us have more questions than answers."

The four victims who were killed Sunday were identified as the following Monday by police:

• Silvesta Daye Junior, 43
• Douglas Green, 58
• Olivia Green, 62
• Alpha Smith, 62

Police said the rampage started at the home of Joshua Green's parents.

"The genesis of this tragic chain of events" began on Manor Road, according to Col. Andre Davis of the Baltimore County Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division. "The shooting spree continued to the Royal Farms store and ended at the home of our shooter."

Officials went to the Manor Road home in northern Baltimore County to notify Green's parents of their son's death after police said he had shot multiple people at Royal Farms in Essex and then took his own life.

"To their dismay," Davis said officers attempting to provide next-of-kin notification "found the bodies of Douglas and Olivia Green in the garage of their home suffering from an apparent gunshot wound."

Police said Joshua Green was responsible for the following three incidents, which they responded to initially at the Royal Farms store in Essex Sunday morning:

• At 6:43 a.m., officials said Green shot three people at the Royal Farms in the 1600 block of Middleborough Road in Essex. First, he blocked a woman in her vehicle in the parking lot, then walked up to her window and shot her, according to Davis, who identified her as Smith. Next the gunman went inside the store and shot Daye near the cash registers, killing him, the colonel said. He shot Joshua Robinson, a Royal Farms employee, who is in stable condition, according to police.
• Soon after the shooting call came in, authorities were alerted about a fire in the 1400 block of Shadetree Road, which is not far from Middleborough Road. An apartment "was fully engulfed in flames," Davis said, and "there was a deceased male on the parking lot, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. This man was later identified as our shooter."
• At 3:21 p.m., officers went to the 1400 block of Manor Road to notify the parents of Green's death, and police found his parents deceased, according to Davis.

The gunman used a legally purchased weapon that was bought in 2020, Davis said. He did not have a criminal record, police reported.

"As to why this occurred, we have no idea yet," Davis reported Monday morning. "Our homicide detectives are tirelessly investigating a motive. But it appears that the shooter acted alone."

Help for Those Considering Suicide

"I would encourage everyone to check on and care for our neighbors," County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said at the news conference Monday about the shootings. "I know that we will all be hugging our loved ones a little tighter today and tonight in the wake of this senseless tragedy."

Baltimore County suggests these hotlines for those in crisis:

• Baltimore County Crisis Response System: 410-931-2214
• First Call for Help (all types of referrals): 410-685-0525 or 211
• Grassroots suicide intervention hotline based in Columbia: 410-531-6677

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (or 1-800-784-2433). Its website offers services including a live chat.

Related: 2 Dead, 1 Wounded In Shooting At Royal Farms In Essex