Howard County high school mourns district's second student death from Columbia mall shooting

The Howard County high school community is mourning a second student's death due to gun violence outside The Mall in Columbia on Saturday, Feb. 22. 

Oakland Mills freshman Blake McCray died on Thursday, Feb. 27, from injuries related to the shooting, school principal Dr. Jeffrey Fink said in a letter to parents and families. Michael Robertson, a sophomore student at Wilde Lake High School, was also killed in the shooting.

"Many students and staff were hopeful for Blake's recovery, making this news especially difficult for all of us," Fink said.

Emmetson Zeah, 18, has been accused of both murders, according to police.

Police said 15-year-old McCray and 16-year-old Robertson were at a bus loop area outside of Lidl when they were targeted in a double shooting Zeah. 

Robertson died that night while McCray was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after being shot in the head.

Zeah, who was wearing an ankle monitor following a crime last November, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder within hours of the shooting. He remains at the Howard County Detention Center without bail.

"Blake's death due to an act of violence is difficult to comprehend and may cause strong reactions, including concerns about community safety," Fink said. "I want to reassure you that the Howard County Police arrested a suspect in the shooting."

Howard County Police tell WJZ Zeah's charges may be elevated in the coming days.

Zeah's prior criminal troubles

Court records show Zeah was placed on pre-trial home detention with an ankle monitor for an alleged attempted murder and home invasion months before he allegedly shot and killed two teenagers.

Zeah was found in violation of his pre-trial release on Feb. 21 a day before the murders.

According to a letter sent by Advantage Sentencing Alternative Program (ASAP, Inc.), Zeah violated his court order several times. The letter said he should have been at his home, but instead, he was found on school grounds, at other people's homes, the mall, and businesses.

The director of the agency notified the courts just one day before the shooting near the mall.  

The ankle monitor linked Zeah's location to the mall the day of the shooting, and it also tracked him to a shooting on Feb. 14 in another Columbia neighborhood. 

The third-party electronic monitoring firm says Zeah was tracked to parking lots, other homes, walking around his neighborhood, and to schools between Feb. 13 and Feb. 20. He also failed to submit verification of his location.

Columbia mall security plan

The incident on Feb. 22 was the second fatal shooting at the mall in six months. In July, 17-year-old Angelo Little was shot and killed near the mall's food court.

His mother, Charell Wilson, spoke to WJZ in the days following her son's death. Wilson and her son moved to Columbia from East Baltimore in 2014 because she thought it would be safer.

"I lost my son to gun violence, which was something I wouldn't have even thought about in Columbia," Wilson said. "I will never have a grandchild [or] see him walk across the stage. They ripped that from me. Everything that made me happy in life is now gone."

Howard County Police say a new detail of officers are working at the mall. A captain was assigned to this unit, which will utilize uniformed and undercover officers, work with school resource officers to identify teens who may be involved in crimes, as well as work with mall security to monitor video footage.

"Howard County sees small fluctuations up and down in crime categories from year to year, so evaluations over a long period of time provide the most accurate trends. When we see an ongoing problem, we will take all necessary measures and strategies to address it," Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said. "There is no silo. He has the autonomy to go anywhere he wants in the department."

Howard County teen violence

At a press conference on Thursday, leaders from Howard County, including Superintendent Bill Barnes, discussed the shooting and crime overall in the county.

It has been a challenging year for Howard County Public School's students. 

In July, 17-year-old Angelo Little was shot and killed near the mall's food court. Police say 18-year-old William Marshall III is the suspect in this case and is wanted by police. There is a $30,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. The U.S. Marshal's Service is also assisting in the search.

In October, a 17-year-old Howard High School student was charged with murder after a 26-year-old was found shot and killed in a car in a Columbia business park.

While addressing the press, Barnes said it has been a difficult week for the entire school community in the county.

"I grieve alongside each of you as we try to understand why Michael Robertson and Blake McCray, two of our students, were victims of a senseless crime," Barnes said.

Barnes, who is in his first year on the job, noted the district has emphasized mental health resources for students to help them communicate better. Additional crisis services were mobilized to several schools following this shooting.

"There's been a real emphasis on building relationships and community. Utilizing restorative practices so that we create structures so that students learn how to talk through situations and not resort to violence," Barnes said.

Resources for Oakland Mills students

The Oakland Mills High principal said teachers informed the students of McCray's death during the first period on Friday.

School officials added that counselors from the Howard County Crisis Team were made available for students.

"During guided discussions, (teachers) addressed students' feelings and reactions, reviewed coping strategies, and provided an opportunity for questions," Fink said. 

The HCPSS Mental Health and Wellness page on the school system website has many links to resources in Howard County.

The principal also encouraged parents and guardians to help a struggling student by using these strategies:

• Listen to your child and be available for questions.
• Encourage your child to express their feelings and share your own feelings and reactions.
• Monitor your child for changes in behavior or mood over the next few weeks. These changes could include a loss of appetite, difficulties sleeping, heightened sadness, or a preoccupation with the details of this violent tragedy. If you notice changes, talk to them as this could be a sign they are struggling.

 "While all unexpected deaths are difficult, death due to violence may trigger especially strong emotions and reactions," Fink said. "Feelings such as anger, fear, and sadness are normal. Common grief reactions include anxiety, sleep disturbances, difficulties concentrating, temporary loss of appetite, and fears about the health and safety of friends and loved ones."