Rockwell Avenue Murder-Suicide: Police Identify Victims

CATONSVILLE, MD — Police said that a man shot and killed his fiancee and puppy before killing himself at their home on Rockwell Avenue Monday.

Jenna Lilly, 28, and Christopher Cleaver,33, both of the 2100 block of Rockwell Avenue, were found deceased at the residence, according to the Baltimore County Police Department.

Lilly was Cleaver's fiancée, and authorities believe that Cleaver shot her and their black Labrador retriever puppy before turning the gun on himself.

Officials said they responded to the home after a third party called 911 around 10:19 a.m. to report that there was a suicidal person at the residence with a gun.

At approximately 2:45 p.m., officials said they found male and female bodies in what had been determined to have been a domestic case of murder-suicide.

During the investigation, police had shut down surrounding roads in the area as a precaution. Rockwell Avenue was closed between Oak Lodge and Old Frederick roads, the Baltimore County Police Department reported before noon. Drummond Road was also closed. (Get breaking news alerts from Catonsville Patch.)

After an hours-long barricade, police said officers went into the home and found the bodies of a man and woman inside.

Help for Those Considering Suicide

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help.

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.

The Baltimore County Crisis Response System is available at 410-931-2214, and the county offers this list of local support groups for caregivers.

Catonsville Middle School students who walked in the Rockwell Avenue area were being kept at school, since school was closing three hours early on Monday. The principal issued the following statement:

Good morning, CMS parents,
This message is for families of students who walk to school and who live on Rockwell, Oak Lodge, Drummond, or Arlon. Due to police activity, these roads have been closed. In the interest of safety, we have met with students who live on Rockwell, Oak Lodge, Drummond, and Arlon and have asked them to stay with us at school until they can get picked up by an adult or to contact a parent to make other arrangements for getting home today (Monday, June 12). If your child lives on Rockwell, Drummond, Oak Lodge, or Arlon and he/she has not called you yet to verify how he/she is getting home today, please call us right away...so we can help you make arrangements.

Thank you,
Michael Thorne
Principal

File photo