Homicide stuns quiet Laurel community

Cornelius Howard was awakened just before 2:30 Friday morning by what sounded like gunshots outside his Russett townhouse.

He rushed to the window in time to see his neighbor Gregory Sears running into his garage across the alley.

Sears, 36, had just been shot in his driveway during an apparent robbery attempt, county police said.

He died at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. He is the first homicide victim in the county this year.

Sears and his wife were expecting their first child in a matter of weeks, media reports said.

Before he died, he was able to give a brief description of his assailants to police.

Police said they are looking for two men: both are black, one with a thin build and about 6 feet tall; the other suspect is shorter. Sears told police both were wearing dark clothing and masks.

They fled the scene, possibly in a vehicle police are still trying to identify.

Now police are asking the public's help.

"If anyone heard or saw anything, contact the police department or Metro Crime Stoppers," said Justin Mulcahy, a county police spokesman, adding that callers may remain anonymous.

The slaying took place in the 8000 block of Ians Alley in a townhouse development off Russett Green in Laurel.

"It looks like he just arrived home and the incident happened in the driveway," said Mulcahy.

It is still not clear whether Sears was specifically targeted or whether this was a random attack.

Mulcahy added there had been no police incidents at the Sears' home, which the couple has owned since it was built in 2004.

Detectives were canvassing the Russett area and passing out fliers yesterday. Meanwhile, officers have stepped up patrols in the neighborhood, Mulcahy said.

Howard said he did not know Sears "other than hi and bye" as they came and went. Their three-story townhouses share addresses along the Ians Alley, but their front doors face the opposite direction.

He said he did not see anything else early yesterday morning other than Sears entering his garage.

Howard and his wife moved to their Russett townhouse in 2010, leaving Silver Spring and the heavier crime of the Washington area.

"We didn't think we'd see this here in Russett. We moved here to get away from crime ... apparently not," he said.

Yesterday afternoon the neighborhood was quiet. Not a person on the street save for a trio of kids hanging out two blocks away.

In the driveway where Sears was shot someone had placed a single vase of flowers on top of a Harley-Davidson tote bag laid out just so.

An American flag flew next to the front door.

Sears co-owned a medical financial and collection company off Crain Highway in Glen Burnie.

He was expecting to become a father in a few weeks, WJLA and WMAR television reported.

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Anyone with information can call Detective Shelly Guy at 410-222-3458.

Metro Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward. They can be reached at 1-866-7LOCKUP (562587).

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Staff Writer Pamela Wood contributed to this story.

pfurgurson@capgaznews.com

Source: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2012/01_07-02/FOR

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