Westminster police were called to a home on East Main Street on Sunday morning. According to Fox Baltimore and WMAR, two people are dead following what police are investigating as a domestic violence-related murder-suicide.
The call came in around 8:29 a.m. on April 19, according to reporting from WMAR and Fox Baltimore. Officers were directed to the 300 block of East Main Street after a caller reported that one adult family member had shot another and fled the home with the firearm.
Westminster police and the Carroll County Sheriff's Office established a perimeter around the residence. Officers were unable to make contact with anyone inside. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office Crisis Response Team and Crisis Negotiations Team were activated at 8:43 a.m. At 9:59 a.m., the Crisis Response Team entered the home and discovered the bodies of two deceased individuals inside.
The identities of the deceased have not been released. Police confirm there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The Investigation
The Westminster Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau has taken the lead on the investigation. They are being assisted by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit and the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office. The incident is being classified as a domestic violence-related murder-suicide, per Fox Baltimore's reporting. What led to the shooting remains under investigation.
Resources and Support
If you're struggling with suicidal thoughts, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by calling 988 or texting "HOME" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233. In Maryland, the House of Ruth's 24-hour line is 410-889-7884.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Westminster Police Department at 410-848-4646 or [email protected]. Tips can also be submitted to the Westminster Police Department tips line at 410-857-8477.
This article draws on coverage from WMAR-2 News and Fox Baltimore.