Following the arrests of two men in the fatal Halloween party shooting in west Columbia, police are looking into the party’s legality and other issues surrounding the house where the party was held, Howard County Police Chief William McMahon said Monday.

“There’s a tremendous amount of work left to be done,” McMahon said at a news conference.

He noted that party-goers were wearing wristbands and said police are investigating whether an admission was charged to get in and whether a permit was required to hold the party.

Charges against the homeowners, listed on the state Department of Assessments and Taxation Web site as Dennis Edwards and Joanne Powell, have not been filed, Sherry Llewellyn, a police spokeswoman said.

The homeowners paid $1.6 million for the 4,620-square-foot house in September 2006, according to the Web site.

According to Howard County Circuit Court records, foreclosure proceedings were initiated against Edwards and Powell in March 2007 but were dismissed in August 2009.

Police believe the two men who were shot at the party, one fatally, were not the intended victims, McMahon said. The shots were fired from outside the residence, the chief said, striking one of the victims outside the house and the other inside. Aaron Thomas Brice, 19, of Silver Spring, was found dead in the driveway. Nathaniel Quick, 22, of Columbia, was found alive in the basement and was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he is listed in serious but stable condition.

Police also are investigating whether the two men arrested in the shootings, Devin “Devon” O’Brian Dixon and Dean Schroyer, both of Elkridge, left the party after being evicted and then returned and opened fire, Llewellyn said.

The shots were fired from a .40-caliber Glock and 21 bullet casings were found at the scene of the shooting, McMahon said.

Because more than 100 people at the party had to be interviewed, more than 70 officers were called to the scene Sunday, McMahon said.

“A tremendous amount of resources (were) brought to bear in this case,” he said.

“Obviously there are lives that changed forever,” McMahon added. “Our hearts and prayers are out to those families.”

— Staff writer Jennifer Broadwater contributed to this report.

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user comments (6)

user milton says...

It’s been almost a year and the Howard County Police have still not released any further details about botched raid in Elkridge on an innocent man’s home that resulted in the shooting death of a family dog. Maybe the police should solve that case before they worry about whether or not party goers had to pay an admission fee to attend this party.

Posted 8:34 PM, 11.02.09 | Permalink

user cascade says...

milton- Have you put in a request for information with the county police? If not, you must not be that curious. And finding out the legality of the party is a preventative measure for events like this and a punitive measure for the "owners" of the house.

Posted 11:04 AM, 11.03.09 | Permalink

user milton says...

Cascade- good question. Yes, I have put in a request for more info but the Police Department refuses to release any info since I am not an "interested party". They are essentially hiding behind HR policy.

Posted 12:03 PM, 11.03.09 | Permalink

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

The problem is murder, not holding a party without a license. FOCUS people.

Posted 7:44 PM, 11.04.09 | Permalink

user asdfgh says...

yeah you're right belovedcartoonmouse. they're going to just forget about the murder and concentrate on the zoning violations. oh wait, they already arrested 2 people? hmmm...

Posted 3:21 PM, 11.05.09 | Permalink

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

If charging a homeowner with zoning violations because of a murder makes you sleep better, then enjoy. Maybe, while the County is at it, they can charge them under any number of obscure administrative regulations. That will bring justice.

Posted 7:03 AM, 11.06.09 | Permalink