On a tragic day in Joppa, Maryland, 38-year-old Sheena Yvonne Smothers, a female, became a victim in a horrific quadruple shooting that unfolded within the walls of her own apartment. On August 26, 2023, what began as a family visit descended into a scene of unimaginable violence, leaving a community in shock and a family shattered by loss. Sheena, who was an only child, was fatally shot and killed inside her home on Trimble Road.
The perpetrator was identified as 34-year-old Devin Brown
of Baltimore. He had arrived at Sheena's apartment accompanied by his mother, 65-year-old Sherlyn Ann Pitts. The purpose of their visit was to see Sheena and her 17-year-old son, Jaylin Stuart. At some point during the visit, Brown produced a handgun and opened fire on his own family members. He fatally shot his mother, Sherlyn, his cousin Sheena, and her son Jaylin. After extinguishing three lives, Brown then turned the gun on himself, ending his own life in a final, devastating act.
Law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter at approximately 11:18 a.m. Upon entering the apartment, deputies discovered a gruesome scene with three adults, including Sheena and Brown, already deceased. Jaylin, a senior in high school, was found with severe injuries and was rushed to Shock Trauma for emergency medical care. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, the teenager succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation into the motive behind Brown's violent rampage is ongoing, leaving a grieving family and community searching for answers that may never come. In the wake of the tragedy, family members created a GoFundMe page to assist with the unexpected funeral costs for Sheena, Jaylin, and Sherlyn. The incident was confirmed by the Harford County Sheriff's Office to be a murder-suicide, and as the sole suspect is deceased, there will be no arrests or subsequent trial.
