In the late hours of a March night in Rosedale, Maryland, the life of 13-year-old Richard 'Rickie' Thomas Forehand III was tragically cut short. On March 8, 2020, Rickie, a male student at Vanguard Collegiate Middle School, was with a group of other young people in the parking lot of the Kenwood Shopping Center. Shortly before midnight, as a number of teenagers were leaving the Triple Threat Elite Dance Studio, a vehicle drove through the parking lot and shots were fired into the crowd.
The hail of bullets struck six individuals. Rickie Forehand was fatally wounded and died at the scene. Five other people were injured in the shooting, including two 12-year-old boys, two 14-year-olds, and a 19-year-old man. The injured victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment and were eventually released to recover at home. The incident was a significant act of violence for the area, marking the first time in over a decade that six people had been shot in a single event in Baltimore County. In the wake of the shooting, friends, family, and coaches remembered Rickie as a beloved young man who was passionate about football.
An investigation into the shooting led to the arrests of two suspects in early December of the same year. Rodrick ONeil Bell, who was 20 years old at the time, and 16-year-old Jeremiah Corneal Bell were taken into custody at their home. Despite his age, Jeremiah Bell was charged as an adult. Both individuals faced charges of first-degree murder for the death of Rickie Forehand and five counts of attempted first-degree murder for the other victims. Following their arrest, both suspects were held at the Baltimore County Detention Center without bail. Detectives continued to investigate the motive behind the deadly shooting.
