3-Month-Old Baby Survives Family Murder-Suicide In Elkridge: Howard County Police

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A grandfather has been identified as the suspect in a murder-suicide that happened in Elkridge Thursday. His 3-month-old granddaughter survived the shooting, police say.

Nayyar Abbas Syed, 61, was pronounced dead at St. Agnes hospital after the shooting. Syed's wife, Syeda Aalia Nayyar, 57, daughter, Syeda Fatima, 25, and daughter-in-law, Alizey Fatima, 33, were pronounced dead at the scene. Syed’s son, Muhammad Ali Hamza, 31, was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with critical injuries, the police department reported.

Syed's granddaughter, who is three months old, was in the home but not harmed during the shootings. She received a wellness check at the hospital and will be placed in the custody of a family member, according to the Howard County Police Department.

Police were called to the 6900 block of Norwood Ferry at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. Police received multiple 911 calls indicating that neighbors in the area heard gunshots and dispatchers also received a call from Syed indicating he had shot his family and intended to kill himself. All of the victims lived at the residence in the 6900 block of Norwood Ferry. Syed lived elsewhere.