Authorities Take Chesapeake High School Freshman Into Custody on Murder Charges

A freshman at Chesapeake High School was taken into custody on murder related charges, law enforcement officials said yesterday.  

According to the Howard County Police Department, the 14-year-old male from Severn was taken into custody at Chesapeake High School as one of two people charged in connection with the murder of a man discovered on October 12 shot to death in a vehicle in Columbia. 

A 17-year-old juvenile male from Ellicott City was previously arrested at Howard High School, where he is a student, with a loaded gun in his backpack. The 17-year-old suspect was under supervision of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and on an ankle monitor for a previous incident in another jurisdiction.

Both suspects are charged as adults with first-degree murder and related charges and are being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.

Officers making routine area checks at 2:14 a.m. on Oct. 12 discovered Kendrick McLellan, 26, of Baltimore, deceased with multiple gunshot wounds in a vehicle in the parking lot of an office building in the 8800 block of Centre Park Drive. Through investigation, police determined that the shooting took place around 5 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the same location McLellan was discovered. 

Detectives believe that the victim and at least one of the suspects were acquaintances. The motive remains under investigation.

STATEMENT FROM VICTIM’S MOTHER:

“My son was a funny, outgoing, caring father. He was my all. My son would give anything to anybody. I’m hurt that he died a senseless death and these kids need to be held accountable. I want to thank everyone for all the work they did to make these arrests and for all the prayers. At this time, I request that the media respects my family’s privacy.”  

***Any suspects/arrested/charged individuals and persons of interest named or identified in the articles are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.***