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Maryland Department of State Police

Police Charge Fourth Suspect in Shooting Death of Five-Year-Old in Dorchester County

News |

(LINKWOOD, MD) – Maryland State Police have arrested and charged a fourth suspect, a Dorchester County juvenile, in connection with the shooting death of a five-year-old in Linkwood in August.

The accused is a 16-year-old man from Dorchester County. He is charged with first-degree murder and other related criminal charges. He is currently being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center. 

Last month, investigators charged Anthony D. Harris, 26, of Hurlock, Maryland, and Wendell A. Wongus III, 23, of Hurlock, Maryland, with first-degree murder and other related charges. Lindsay Jo Ewing, 42, of Cambridge, Maryland, was also charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and other related charges. Harris, Wongus and Ewing are all held without bond.

Shortly before 2:30 a.m. on August 11, 2026, troopers from the Maryland State Police Easton Barrack responded to a residence in the 3900-block of Ocean Gateway for a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, troopers located two victims with suspected gunshot wounds. 

One of the victims was a five-year-old girl. She was pronounced deceased on the scene by emergency medical services personnel. The second victim was a 30-year-old man, identified as Ryan Adams. Adams was flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a local trauma center for treatment. 

Information gleaned during the investigation identified Adams and a 15-year-old man as suspects in a non-fatal shooting that occurred several hours earlier in Hurlock, Maryland. Investigators believe the shooting in Hurlock and the shooting in Linkwood are related. Adams has since been released from the hospital and is charged with attempted first-degree murder and other related charges. The 15-year-old has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and other related charges.  Both are being held without bond at the Dorchester County Detention Center.

The investigation is being led by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit with assistance provided by the Forensic Sciences Division, Special Operations Division, the FBI, Hurlock Police Department, and other allied law enforcement agencies. 

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit tip line at 202-953-1903. The Maryland State Police and the FBI are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for any additional information that may lead to an arrest in this investigation.  Callers may remain anonymous.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.