On the night of July 28, 2016, a car crashed into the side of a townhouse in the Bywater Mutual Homes neighborhood of Annapolis, Maryland. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered Charles Edward Carroll Jr., a 25-year-old man from Baltimore, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
His death marked the seventh homicide in Annapolis that year, a significant increase for a city that typically saw two to three murders annually.
Charles, known to his family and friends as 'Buddah' or 'CJ,' was the son of a local pastor, the Rev. Charles Carroll, who had been actively campaigning against gun violence in the community. Just a month before his son's death, Rev. Carroll had organized a gun drive to help reduce the number of firearms on the streets. While his father acknowledged that Charles had faced challenges and made mistakes in his life, he also described him as a 'nice person' who 'didn't deserve to die.' His mother, Beverly Reed, remembered her son as a 'loving and caring person' who was in the process of turning his life around. He had recently earned his high school diploma and had aspirations of starting his own business.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Annapolis police began an investigation, and the FBI later joined the case, offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to an arrest. Despite these efforts, the case grew cold over the years, leaving Carroll's family in a prolonged state of grief and uncertainty. Years after his death, law enforcement officials revealed that they believe they know who killed him and that the murder weapon had been recovered. Information gathered during the investigation suggested a conspiracy to carry out the homicide.
Despite these developments, as of early 2026, no arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed in the murder of Charles E. Carroll Jr. The case officially remains a 'cold case,' a source of ongoing frustration and pain for his family. His parents have continued to publicly plead for justice and transparency from the Annapolis Police Department, questioning why there has been a delay in filing charges when there appears to be significant evidence. They continue to keep his memory alive, marking his birthdays and the anniversary of his death with public remembrances, still waiting for the closure that a conviction might bring.
