On the early evening of March 28, 2019, 27-year-old Columbia native Ronald Carolina Jr. was fatally shot around 5:21 p.m. in the 5400 block of Old Tucker Road near the Harper’s Choice Village Center. Witnesses reported multiple people approached Carolina before several shots were fired. Officers found him outside Kahler Hall with multiple gunshot wounds; he was taken to Howard County General Hospital and pronounced dead.

Detectives described the shooting as a targeted event and said they believed it was likely drug-related. Initial witness accounts indicated at least two suspects fled the scene. The Howard County Police Department offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

By April 2019 two Columbia residents, 24-year-old Daniel Keantay Owens and 18-year-old Antonio Donte Bardney, were arrested and charged with first- and second-degree murder, armed robbery and related offenses. In October 2019 two more arrests followed: 35-year-old Ryan Lee Sonifrank of Laurel and 16-year-old Curtis Shelton Buckner of Columbia, the latter charged as an adult; all four were held without bond.

If anyone knew Ronald Ron Ron or Book, or saw activity near Old Tucker Road that evening, please share what can help the investigation.