Woman Killed By Ex-Husband In Columbia Murder-Suicide Was Denied Protective Orders
COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) -- By the time Rajaee Black streamed threats on Facebook Live outside his ex-wife Wendy Black's apartment in Columbia, police said he had already killed his ex-girlfriend Tara Labang in South Baltimore.
Rajee Black said in the video Labang was pregnant at the time he shot her. "It's the holidays. I have no family. I did something crazy."
Seconds later, he followed Wendy Block inside. The video cuts off. Police said after he killed Wendy Black, he killed himself.
WJZ scoured court records and obtained multiple protective orders Wendy Black had previously filed against him, the most recent from last year.
In one order, she wrote, "He threatened to kill me with a gun."
She said "He has pushed, shoved, threatened and bit me in the past. I am afraid of him and his anger and do not want him to know where I live. He has access to weapons." She also claimed in the order that he was suicidal.
In another order, she said he told her "I'm coming for you!" She wrote "I am terrified because I do not know what he's capable of... I do not feel that I am safe. I feel that my life is in danger."
The protective orders were denied.
"It's just extremely sad to hear about what happened," said Luu Pham, who lives just a few doors down from the first homicide in Baltimore.
"It's shocking, but this is the kind of stuff we've heard about for years. These kinds of horrific things being live streamed. It just adds another layer of horror to the way these things have happened," Pham told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. "I feel so sad for them and that there wasn't something that could have been done to support them better and protect them from this kind of violence."
The suspect and both victims were nurses. Wendy Black worked at Howard County General according to friends. One started an online fundraiser for her surviving children.
"Her quiet demeanor and strong presence was felt throughout our Anesthesiology Department as well as the entire Peri-operative Services Department," wrote organizer Lola Salaam. "She is survived by her two beautiful daughters. Wendy adored and doted on these two and was excited as she watched them grow and learn. She would often show pictures of their current hairstyles and share stories about their latest adventures."
Howard County Police wrote in a news release, "Just after the shooting, police located the Blacks' two young children unharmed in Rajaee Black's car, a gray BMW X3, in the parking lot of the apartment complex where the shooting occurred. The children have been placed in a safe environment and did not witness the incident."
Tara Labang worked at Ascension St. Agnes in Baltimore. Here is the hospital's full statement:
"The Ascension Saint Agnes community is devastated by the loss of Tara Labang, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist on our team. We are shocked and saddened by this news, and our thoughts and prayers are with Tara's family. As a Catholic healthcare community, we are wrapping our arms around her fellow co-workers in care and support through this difficult time. Our spiritual care department and employee assistance program are mobilized to care for those who need it most. Tara will be greatly missed in her community and by all of Ascension Saint Agnes."
