In the crisp autumn air of November 26, 2023, a journey to Baltimore turned tragic for 18-year-old Carlos Carrazana-Ricardo. A high school senior from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with a passion for cars, he had traveled approximately 80 miles with a friend to inquire about a 2006 Acura TL they had seen advertised on Facebook Marketplace. What began as a hopeful excursion into the world of automobiles ended in a senseless act of violence that claimed the young man's life.
Born in Cuba,
Carlos was a student at J.P. McCaskey High School. On that fateful day, he and his friend arrived in West Baltimore, in the 2700 block of Harlem Avenue, to meet the seller. After inspecting the vehicle, they made the decision not to purchase it. As they were leaving the scene in their own car, their departure was met with a hail of gunfire from behind. Carlos was struck in the head by a bullet. Despite his grievous injury, he managed to shield his friend who was driving as they sped away in search of help. Their desperate flight ended when their vehicle crashed a short distance away on Winchester Street.
Responding to a shot spotter alert, Baltimore Police discovered the crashed vehicle and the wounded teenager. Carlos was rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, but his injuries proved to be fatal. Homicide investigators took charge of the case, and their attention quickly focused on the Facebook Marketplace advertisement and the communications that preceded the fatal encounter.
The investigation led police to 18-year-old Marques Harris of Baltimore. Detectives were able to trace the phone number used to communicate with Carlos about the vehicle to Harris. Further evidence was gathered, and Carlos's friend was able to identify Harris from a photo lineup. A search warrant executed at Harris's residence resulted in the recovery of a handgun. Just a few days later, on December 2nd, an arrest warrant was issued, and Harris was taken into custody.
Marques Harris faced a litany of serious charges, including first- and second-degree murder, as well as attempted murder. The legal proceedings culminated in his conviction in September 2024 for first-degree murder, attempted homicide, and other related offenses. On March 10, 2025, a judge sentenced Harris to life in prison plus an additional 10 years, ensuring that the person responsible for the untimely death of Carlos Carrazana-Ricardo would be held accountable for his actions.
