In the early morning hours, the quiet of a Columbia, Maryland neighborhood was shattered by the sound of gunshots, leading to the tragic discovery of Barbara Stokes, a 65-year-old woman, and her husband, Jack Dee Stokes, 78, found deceased in their home on Red Haven Road. The incident, which occurred on February 24, 2025, unfolded around 3:07 a.m. when police received a report of gunfire.
Upon their arrival, officers encountered a chilling scene.
Outside the residence, they located a vehicle with a man, later identified as the couple's 33-year-old grandson, DiAngelo Smith, sitting inside with a gun. Smith, who had been living with his grandparents, was taken into custody at the scene without incident. Inside the home, the responding officers made the grim discovery of Barbara and Jack Stokes on the second floor, both having sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head.
The investigation into the double homicide revealed a harrowing sequence of events. A witness who was inside the house at the time reported seeing Smith point a gun at his grandfather before hearing a gunshot. As the witness fled the residence for their safety, a second gunshot was heard. This witness was able to escape the home, possibly by jumping out of a window, and was not physically harmed. Another child was also found in the car with Smith and was reported to be safe and cared for after the incident.
DiAngelo Smith was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and other related charges. He is currently being held at the Howard County Detention Center without bail. While the motive for the killings remains unclear and the investigation is ongoing, the incident has been described by authorities as a domestic-related homicide. The deaths of Barbara and Jack Stokes have left their community in shock, with neighbors remembering them as kind and friendly people.
