On a Tuesday night in Belcamp, Maryland, the ordinary atmosphere of a McDonald's on Riverside Parkway was shattered by violence. On April 23, 2024, Sebashton Charles Nocar, a 19-year-old male from the Bel Air area, was inside the restaurant when he was fatally shot. Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of the shooting shortly after 10:30 p.m. and found Nocar with a gunshot wound to his head.
Despite the immediate aid rendered by the deputies, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the death of the young man, who was also known as Ashton, began immediately. Detectives from the Harford County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division, with assistance from the Forensic Services, K9, and Drone Units, quickly identified a suspect. Through their investigation, they named 32-year-old Djbril Ramatoulay of Aberdeen as the person responsible for the shooting. An arrest warrant was issued, and on the morning of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Ramatoulay was taken into custody without incident by a team of deputies from various divisions.
Further investigation revealed more details about the tragic night. There was a second individual present at the scene who managed to hide in the restaurant's stockroom during the incident. Surveillance footage played a crucial role, showing Ramatoulay chasing this surviving victim out of the McDonald's and into the parking lot of a nearby Waffle House, firing his weapon multiple times. A search of Ramatoulay's home uncovered clothing that matched what he was wearing in the surveillance video. Forensic testing on these items confirmed the presence of Nocar's blood, linking him directly to the crime.
The case proceeded to trial, and after four days of testimony, a jury convicted Djbril Ramatoulay on November 13, 2024. The convictions included attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and several firearms offenses. While an arrest and conviction have brought a measure of justice, the investigation by sheriff's detectives continued.
