Teenager shot dead in Baltimore County

REISTERSTOWN, Md. — For the record, Baltimore County police will only say that a 17-year-old man was found shortly before 6:30 a.m. Sunday, dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the 200 block of Hammershire Road.

Neighbors say they heard four gunshots in the parking lot where the body was found five hours earlier.

“We weren't expecting this at all,” Brittany Alston said, “not literally being at the front door. I came out of the house and my neighbor said to me, “There's a body in front of your car,” and I said, “Oh wow,” but I wasn't expecting that.

Other neighbors say there was a large party across the street that evening, and at first they thought the gunshots might have been fireworks.

They add that officers at the scene assured them that although an armed man was still at large, the killing was not accidental.

“They said not to stress about it, because, again, this is the lifestyle they live,” Alston said. “The only unfortunate thing is when this happens they opened the pools for the kids so we go back, we're not supposed to be scared but we still have to watch ourselves.

This comes from a woman who grew up in West Baltimore and still loves the city, but chose to move to the county to escape such violence.

“I'm really used to it, which is why, unfortunately, when I came out, I was just head down, literally minding my own business, straight to my car, go wherever I'm going and go back to my …because you're not afraid, but what's really happening,” Alston said, “I don't want to rush into hurting my family or anyone else.”

If you have any information that could help police you are asked to call 410-307-2020 or if you would like to be eligible for a reward you can call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.