Murder-suicide suspected in deaths
Husband and wife shot in parking lot of Catonsville retirement community
Baltimore County Police are investigating what they described as an apparent murder and suicide Friday afternoon involving a husband and wife in a parking lot on the campus of a Catonsville retirement community.
Police said they received a call about a shooting around 1:52 p.m. When they arrived, officers found the bodies of a 78-year-old man and 79-year-old woman in the parking lot of the continuing care building at Charlestown Retirement Community, police said.
Police have not identified the shooter or the victim but said both were residents of the retirement community.
Officer Jennifer Peach, a spokeswoman, said police expect to provide additional information today. She said time was needed to notify family members of the deceased.
Dan Dunne, a spokesman with Erickson Living, which manages Charlestown, said he was not aware of any similar incidents ever occurring at Charlestown, a 110-acre campus that opened in 1983.
“Charlestown prides itself on its safety and security, and it has a good track record,” he said.
Dunne said residents of the community are allowed to have a firearm if they are licensed, but added that there are “strict guidelines as to the carrying of firearms within the community.” He said he did not have information to share whether the man or the woman was licensed to carry a firearm.
Chiffone Summers of Baltimore was on the campus at the time of the shooting and said she saw a man pushing a woman in a wheelchair. She said the man shot the woman twice and then shot himself.
Peach said she was unable to confirm Summers’ account.
“We need to look into this couple to find out if there were any domestic issues going on between them,” Peach said.
In an email to residents of the community late Friday, Charlestown officials said police were continuing the investigation into the deaths.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our residents, and we extend our hearts and prayers to those involved in the incident,” the email stated. “Our focus now is providing support to residents and employees who are impacted by today’s events.”
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