COLUMBIA, MD — A second teen shot Feb. 22 in a parking lot outside The Mall in Columbia has died and a suspect in custody reportedly violated a home detention order in an earlier shooting.
Blake McCray, 15, was a student at Oakland Mills High School. He was critically injured in the shooting while the person he was with outside the mall Feb. 22, Michael Robertson, 16, died at the scene.
Howard County Police have since arrested Emmetson Zeah, 18, in connection to the shooting deaths. FOX45 reported that according to public records, Zeah was charged with violating his home monitoring the day before the double shooting.
Zeah was placed on home detention Jan. 8 after being arrested in December. He also faces charges of attempted murder for a separate shooting that happened just blocks from the mall on Feb. 14.
Oakland Mills High School Principal, Jeffrey Fink sent a letter to the school community Friday, notifying them of their classmate's death.
The letter shared by WBAL is as follows:
"It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the death of Blake McCray, a 9th-grade student at Oakland Mills H.S. Blake died late Thursday evening from injuries he sustained as a victim at the shooting outside The Mall in Columbia on Saturday. His family gave us permission to share this news with the school community so we can provide support for his friends, classmates and teachers. I ask that you respect the family’s privacy as they grieve this devastating loss.
"Many students and staff were hopeful for Blake's recovery, making this news especially difficult for all of us … Blake's death due to an act of violence is difficult to comprehend and may cause strong reactions, including concerns about community safety. I want to reassure you that the Howard County police arrested a suspect in the shooting over the weekend. The suspect is being held in the Howard County Detention Center after bail was denied.
"While all unexpected deaths are difficult, a death due to violence may trigger especially strong emotions and reactions. Feelings such as anger, fear and sadness are normal. Common grief reactions include anxiety, sleep disturbances, difficulties concentrating, temporary loss of appetite and fears about the health and safety of friends and loved ones," the letter stated.
HCPSS Superintendent William J. Barnes previously said families can access the school's Mental Health and Wellness page that offers information for support.
In response to the recent violent incidences in downtown Columbia, HCPD has established a new unit assigned strictly to strengthen security at The Mall in Columbia.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 410-313-7867 or hcpdcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov, according to authorities, who said tipsters can remain anonymous.
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