Crime & Safety
Marshall Football Player Shot At Severn New Year's Eve Party
A Marshall University football player from Columbia was shot and paralyzed on New Year's Day at a Severn party, his family says.
SEVERN, MD — A Marshall University football player was shot in the back and paralyzed on New Year's Day at a Severn party, his family says. Anne Arundel County Police say they cannot release the name of the shooting victim. But the mother of Marshall redshirt freshman defensive tackle Larry Aaron told media her son was struck by stray gunfire during a party Monday.
Melissa Aaron told the Times Dispatch newspaper in Huntington, West Virginia, that her son and some friends heard of the Severn party via social media and decided to attend. She doesn't believe her son was targeted; his injuries are not considered life threatening.
"It is in his spine and he has no feeling in his legs," Melissa Aaron told the newspaper. "They can't remove it because they are afraid it could be dangerous and hinder him even more to do so. It is right in the middle of his spine."
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She said a fight broke out at the party and then gunshots.
"Out of respect for the victims and their families we do not identify victims of violent crime without their permission," police spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure said Tuesday. "We have attempted to contact the adult male victim’s family but have yet to receive a response if they approve us releasing his information."
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Officers were called about 1 a.m. to the 7800 block of Bastille Road in Severn for reports of a large party under way at the address and located the victim with a gunshot wound to his back. He was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma.
Investigators learned of a second victim, a 17-year-old boy who left the scene before police arrived. The teen was shot in the arm and driven to St. Agnes Hospital by a friend. The youth was treated for a non-life
threatening injury.
Detectives are trying to identify the suspect(s) and motive for the shooting. Anyone with information
is asked to call the Western District Detective Unit at 410-222-6155. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling a 24-hour tip line at 410-222-4700.
Photo courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police
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