After Parking Dispute, Columbia Man Charged With Attempted Murder

COLUMBIA, MD — A Columbia man has been charged with attempted murder and other offenses after a dispute that police said centered around a parking spot. He is being held without bail.

Cornelius H. Harcum, 47, of the 6300 block of Red Haven Road, shot at a vehicle that had parked in his assigned spot at a residential complex in Columbia, according to police.

Investigators say they believe the suspect and the victim did not know each other.

Police were dispatched to a report of shots fired in the 6300 block of Red Haven Road at 2:15 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 21.

A man said he had been visiting a friend and parked in a residential parking spot while he was there, according to police.

When he was standing outside his vehicle, someone told him to move and then fired three shots in his direction, officials said. Two rounds hit his vehicle, according to police.

Surveillance video from a resident provided images of the suspect, and investigation led detectives to identify him as Harcum, police said. He was arrested Monday night.

Court records show Harcum is charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm with a felony conviction and using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Harcum is being held without bail at the Howard County Detention Center and is slated to appear for a preliminary hearing in the case on Feb. 15 in Howard County District Court.

His booking photo is not available due to the ongoing investigation, according to the Howard County Police Department.

File photo.