Woman Who Tossed Molotov Cocktail Through Columbia Apartment Window Sentenced

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The woman involved in a fire-bombing incident that displaced 22 residents and caused significant damage to a Columbia apartment building has been sentenced.

On April 5, 2022, around 3 a.m., Shannon Marie Williams, 44, conspired with two others to make and toss a Molotov cocktail through the window of an occupied apartment at the Bluffs at Hawthorn located in the 10000 block of Hickory Ridge Circle in Columbia. However, her efforts were thwarted as the Howard County Fire and Rescue Department arrived and extinguished the fire. No one was injured, but 22 residents were left without a home, according to Howard County Police.

Williams had had a disagreement with one of the codefendants, Cory Tomlin. The building experienced extensive damage and one firefighter was injured while battle the fire.

Williams was sentenced this week to 115 years suspending all but 50 years with three years of supervised probation upon release. A jury had previously convicted Williams of attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree arson, possession of incendiary material with the intent to create a destructive device and related charges.