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1 Dead, 6 Hurt After Illegal Car Meet-up Turned Violent in Maryland
Detectives said many rally participants knew one another and were not from Howard County, while four additional victims later walked into area hospitals.
- On Monday, April 27, 2026, a mass shooting at an illegal car rally in a Columbia, Maryland, parking garage left 24-year-old Leo Noel Balladares-Arita dead and six others injured, with one victim in critical condition.
- Investigators believe approximately 50 people from Virginia traveled to the Alexander Bell Drive location for the unsanctioned meetup; organizers "staked out" the garage because it lacked surveillance cameras and was off the beaten path, according to Howard County Police spokesperson Sherry Llewellyn.
- Police suspect an exchange of gunfire involving multiple shooters occurred, though no firearms have been recovered; six victims received treatment at various area hospitals, with one listed in critical condition.
- The Maryland Car Rally Task Force has dismantled 224 meet-ups since 2024, contributing to a 66% reduction in Howard County rallies, while authorities urge the public to contact investigators with information about Monday's incident.
- Illegal car rallies continue to strain law enforcement resources across the region, with resident Jimmy Hedgespeth noting the events have shifted from social gatherings to reckless driving and "doing donuts and acting up.
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1 dead, 6 injured in shooting at Howard Co. illegal car rally
A man is dead and six others are wounded after a shooting at an illegal car rally early Monday morning in Howard County, Maryland, according to police. One person is in critical condition and five people suffered injuries that are not considered life threatening, according to Sherry Llewellyn, a spokeswoman with Howard County police. The shooting happened at a Columbia parking garage in the 6700 block of Alexander Bell Drive, where police said a…
·Washington, United States
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left0Leaning Right2Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
C 80%
R 20%
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