Howard County police are investigating a shooting at a crowded Halloween party in Columbia early Sunday that left one man dead and another in critical condition.

Several partygoers at the residence, in the 11500 bock Manorstone Lane, called police at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday to report that shots had been fired.

Police said Aaron Thomas Brice, 19, of Silver Spring, was found dead in the driveway of the residence. Nathaniel Quick, 22, of Columbia, was found alive in the basement and was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, in Baltimore, where he is listed  in critical condition. Sherry Llewellyn, a police spokeswoman, said Sunday that Quick is expected to live but may be paralyzed.

Police are offering rewards of up to $5,000 to those with information about the homicide.

Llewellyn said the shooting was the culmination of an argument that had been brewing all evening. She also said the shooting was the second time since June that police had been called to the residence is near Clarksville.

Partygoers had rented the residence for the night for the Halloween party, Llewellyn said. Witnesses said that multiple shots were fired at the party that drew more than 100 people, and Llewellyn said that a massive police turnout was necessary to preserve evidence and interview those at the scene.

Police temporarily blocked off Route 108 near Manorstone Lane Sunday morning and did not tell drivers why, one Clarksville man said Monday.

Jim McConnell, of Clarksville, said he was on his way home from church when he noticed that Route 108 had been shut off. When he asked an officer what was going on he was told it was confidential, he said. McConnell said he took an alternate route and when he heard about the shooting was saddened but not surprised.

“I’m not shocked that things like that happen. There are too many people who are nuts,” McConnell said. “It’s sad that things like that do happen.”

Two other males from the party were taken to Howard County General Hospital with injuries from an altercation that occurred at about the same time as the shooting, but Llewellyn declined to give out their names because of their status as witnesses.

Police ask those with information to call 410-313-3200.

This story has been updated.

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