A suspect is in custody after a shooting during a fire department’s carnival in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, on Friday night that left a teenager dead and a man injured, deputies said. Devron Ny’Quez Murray, 19, of Lexington Park, was arrested and charged with killing a 16-year-old boy and injuring a man.
Early investigation has shown that the shooting wasn’t random and stemmed from an ongoing dispute between “two known rival groups of youth offenders,” deputies said in a news release. Shots rang out at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department’s annual fundraiser just before 11 p.m. deputies said. Deputies and emergency personnel were already on the scene before shots were fired in the parking lot of the carnival, which was held at 24801 Three Notch Road in Hollywood. Syncere Kovey Smith, 16, was shot multiple times and later died after being transported to the hospital. A man was also shot in the leg and was taken to the hospital. Witnesses helped authorities to find the shooter within minutes. Murray was arrested at the Birdie’s gas station nearby. Deputies say he was in possession of a handgun, which he isn’t allowed to have because of his age. In a video posted to TikTok, one person attending the carnival can be heard yelling at attendees to take shelter after hearing shots fired.
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Murray is being held at St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown.