National Night Out at Hagerstown Fairgrounds Park
Hagerstown Mayor Tekesha Martinez thanks police after helping to present the proclamation for National Night Out on August 6, 2024.
There have been five murders in Washington County so far this year; an arrest warrant was issued for one of the suspects on Thursday.
Four of these murders occurred in Hagerstown, three of which were shootings. The fifth murder was a shooting in Halfway, which was investigated by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Here is a summary of the murder cases of 2024:
Hagerstown Police continue to investigate West End murder of Kevin Shepherd
Kevin Michael Shepherd, 38, of Hagerstown was found dead around 9:50 a.m. on Jan. 26 in the area of Marshall Street and Vermont Avenue from an apparent gunshot wound, according to Hagerstown police and court records.
Hagerstown police charged three people with Shepherd’s murder in early February, but the charges were dropped in March because the evidence did not justify convictions, Washington County District Attorney Gina Cirincion told The Herald-Mail earlier this year.
“This is a complicated process with many moving parts that involves other jurisdictions,” Hagerstown Police Lt. Rebecca Fetchu wrote in an email in April.
In early July, 27-year-old Jenaro “JT” James Torres of Hagerstown was re-charged for Shepherd’s murder after Hagerstown police filed new, more detailed charges citing additional investigation and evidence.
The dropped cases were cases filed in February against Emens “E” Lourdy Rho, 40, of Hagerstown, and Stephanie Nicolle Paulino, 35, of Hagerstown.
Although charges against Rho and Paulino were dropped in the murder trial, they remained incarcerated at the Washington County Detention Center facing charges in other cases.
Hagerstown police continue to investigate Shepherd’s murder, Police Chief Paul Kifer said this week.
“A few tough weeks”: Hagerstown Police Chief speaks about recent shootings
Teenager charged in Halfway shooting
Devin Anthony Meniefield, 23, of Hagerstown, was found shot to death at about 1:25 p.m. March 18 inside a home in the 17400 block of Maple Leaf Court, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Kamari Kenyon Meniefield, then 16, was charged as an adult for the murder of Devin Meniefield.
Police searched the area and found Kamari Meniefield about 30 minutes later in the 1000 block of Noland Drive.
Hagerstown man allegedly stabbed his partner to death
Renee Elizabeth Shoemaker, 57, of Hagerstown, was found dead the morning of April 28 after Hagerstown police were asked to conduct a welfare check at her home in the 400 block of McDowell Avenue in the city’s West End. Shoemaker had not shown up for work that morning.
Shoemaker was found with numerous stab wounds and police found a knife on the ground next to her.
Hagerstown police announced in late April that a murder warrant was out for Cleo Hermon Brown, 51, of Hagerstown, who was being held at a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, jail at the time.
Brown was extradited to Washington County in mid-May. According to court documents, he was accused of stabbing his partner on April 27.
Shootings, letters and many questions: How can Hagerstown address crime problems?
One of two suspects in custody for shooting near downtown Hagerstown
Rusty Mark Edwards, 49, of Williamsport, was pronounced dead at Meritus Medical Center after being shot near downtown Hagerstown shortly before 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 18.
Tiheen Justice Nathan Matthews, 20, who was sitting with Edwards in a car parked in the 200 block of East Washington Street, was also shot.
Brandon Lamont Hinton Jr., 24, was charged with Edwards’ murder the next day. Hagerstown police also said a murder warrant was issued for a second suspect in the shooting.
As of Thursday, the second suspect had not yet been arrested.
The shooting occurred in an area known for heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
The suspects approached the car on scooters, with one of them apparently arguing with the people in the car, according to charging documents describing surveillance footage of the incident. Four people were in the 2018 Kia Optima.
The first suspect opens a car door, pulls out a gun and appears to back away, but then shoots into the car’s rear window, court documents say.
Edwards can be seen getting out of the passenger side and firing back, with shots being fired. He then gets back into the car and the car starts moving but only travels a short distance before stopping, according to video footage and a witness statement police cited in court documents.
A second suspect, who police later identified as Hinton, was on the sidewalk next to the car. After the first suspect began shooting, Hinton is accused of pulling out a gun and firing at the car as well, charging documents say.
Community comes together: Hagerstown’s National Night Out coincidentally follows the recent rise in crime
Hagerstown man charged in shooting of Waynesboro man
Tyrone Earl Nelson, 45, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, was shot in the 300 block of North Jonathan Street on Thursday evening, August 1. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter at Meritus Medical Center.
Brian Anthony Stuart, 24, of Hagerstown, is charged with murder, according to court documents. Stuart turned himself in to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office around 2 a.m. Friday.
In surveillance footage from a Hagerstown home, a man police say is Stuart can be seen pointing a gun at Nelson after an apparent argument, charging documents state. A struggle ensues, and then Nelson clutches his chest as the other man points the gun at him, sending a cloud of smoke billowing from the gun.
Options for transmitting crime reports to the authorities
Crime tips can be reported to Hagerstown police by calling the Washington County Emergency Services non-emergency line at 240-313-4345, emailing [email protected], visiting the police department’s website or using the “See It, Send It” app, said Lt. Rebecca Fetchu.
There are ways to report a concern or submit a tip on the police department’s website.
Tipsters can remain anonymous using any of these methods, said Fetchu, Hagerstown police spokesman.
According to Sergeant Carly Hose, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office recently launched an app that allows people to report crime reports.
When the Sheriff’s Office issues a press release about a specific crime, it may include an email address or phone number for the investigator.
The general number for the sheriff’s office is 240-313-2100.
In case of emergency, dial 911.
Drug activity can be reported to the Washington County Narcotics Task Force by calling its tip line at 301-223-2632 or emailing [email protected], the task force’s website says.
