On a spring afternoon in Edgewood, Maryland, the life of 22-year-old Christopher MarkQuell Smith was tragically cut short. On Saturday, May 30, 2020, at approximately 12:25 p.m., deputies from the Harford County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a shooting in the 600 block of Edgewood Road. Upon their arrival, they discovered Smith outside a residence, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts by the deputies and subsequent care from the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, Smith succumbed to his injuries after being transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
The investigation into the shooting, led by detectives from the Harford County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division, quickly identified two suspects from the Edgewood area: 22-year-old Diantae Williams and 20-year-old Shamel Ferebee. Warrants for their arrests were issued on June 11, 2020, charging both with first and second-degree murder, as well as related charges. While the motive for the shooting remains under investigation, it was reported that Smith had self-identified as a gang member.
A little over a month after the fatal shooting, both suspects were apprehended in different states. On July 1, 2020, Shamel Ferebee was arrested in Greenville, North Carolina, during a traffic stop for failing to use a turn signal. A few days later, on July 7, Diantae Williams was taken into custody in Newport, Rhode Island, by the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, acting on information provided by the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Following their arrests, both men were held in custody awaiting extradition to Maryland to face the charges against them. The successful apprehension of the suspects was highlighted by law enforcement as a testament to the effective collaboration between the community and various law enforcement agencies.
