In the early evening of March 28, 2019, tragedy struck in Columbia, Maryland, when 27-year-old Ronald Carolina Jr. was fatally shot. The incident occurred around 5:21 p.m. in the 5400 block of Old Tucker Road, near the Harper's Choice Village Center. Witnesses reported that multiple people approached Carolina before several shots were fired. Responding to a report of a shooting, Howard County police officers found Carolina outside Kahler Hall with multiple gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to Howard County General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the death of the Columbia native, known to friends and family as 'Ron Ron' or 'Book,' quickly pointed to a targeted event. Detectives believed the shooting was likely drug-related. In the days following the homicide, the Howard County Police Department announced a $5,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest, seeking leads from the community to help piece together the events of that evening. Initial reports from witnesses indicated that at least two suspects fled the scene after the shooting.
Within weeks, the investigation led to the first arrests. In April 2019, Howard County police apprehended two Columbia residents, 24-year-old Daniel Keantay Owens and 18-year-old Antonio Donte Bardney. Both men were charged with first- and second-degree murder, armed robbery, and other related offenses. The case continued to develop, and by October of the same year, two more suspects were taken into custody. Ryan Lee Sonifrank, 35, of Laurel, and 16-year-old Curtis Shelton Buckner of Columbia were also arrested and faced the same serious charges, with Buckner being charged as an adult. All four suspects were held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center.
