WOODLAWN, Md (WMAR) — A triple murder. A police-involved shooting. A devastating fire. A Baltimore County community is still reeling from the terror and chaos early Saturday morning as police continue investigating.
"Everything is gone."
Sunday afternoon, Sushil Chhetri searched through the rubble, what’s left of his Woodlawn home after police say his neighbor caused a fire that destroyed both townhouses.
"We are thinking about what should we do, what should I do for the future?" said Chhetri.
But the fire was just part of what played out on Maury road early Saturday morning.
"I think the intention was to lure everyone with a big sound, like when I saw the fire I thought everyone should be out and then he just started shooting everybody," said neighbor Abdul Hadi Syed.
Baltimore County Police said 56-year-old Everton Brown shot and killed three neighbors and injured another, before officers made it on scene and found him armed with a gun in the parking lot.
MORE: Three people dead, shooter killed by police during fire, shooting in Woodlawn
Officials said when Brown refused to follow orders to drop his gun, an officer shot him. Four officers in total fired at him until they were able to safely take him into custody. He later died. Syed said neighbors didn’t know him well, but knew enough to avoid him.
"I wouldn’t call him insane but he was a little off. Like you don’t want to see him in his eyes, basically you just cross the street when you saw him," said Syed.
Per departmental policy, police are releasing the last name of each officer, the precinct the officer is assigned to and their years of service:
- Officer Irwin – Woodlawn Precinct – 14 years of service
- Officer Norton – Woodlawn Precinct – 6 years of service
- Officer Davis – Woodlawn Precinct – 9 years of service
- Officer Becketts – Woodlawn Precinct – 6 years of service
On Monday police said their mobile crisis team had encounters with Brown in the past and that he had three peace orders placed against him over past 13 years, including one in March. At the time officers had recovered one weapon from the suspect.
Among the victims is Chhetri’s brother 24-year-old Sagar Ghimire. Originally from Nepal, he recently graduated from college in South Carolina and had just moved to Maryland last week to meet family.
"He already graduated and was looking for a job," said Chhetri.
41-year-old Ismael Quintanilla and 37-year-old Sara Alacote were also killed. Police said the suspect forced his way into their home. According to a GoFundMe started by family, they leave behind a 17-year-old son.
"I’m really sorry for those who lost their lives. They were really nice people," said Syed.
Officials say the fire was gas-fed and everything is still under investigation. They also found several homemade explosive devices in the suspects car.
As part of their comprehensive investigation, police are continuing to review calls for service to the block.
A preliminary investigation shows 125 calls for service, the majority initiated from 7542 Maury Rd. These calls were made between January 1997 and May 2021.
Click here to listen to some of the initial 911 calls from last Saturday or listen below.
In memory of Sara and Ismael Quintanilla:
https://gf.me/v/c/d5g/in-memory-of-sara-and-ismael-quintanilla
Support for Maryland Shooting Victims:
https://gf.me/v/c/d5g/support-for-maryland-shooting-victims
