Aโ man suspected โof fatally โshooting a National Guard member โin Maryland is expected to face murder charges,โ a U.S. attorney โannounced Monday. The โsuspect, identifiedโ asโฃ 38-year-old Kristofer Kelley of Owings Mills, allegedly shot 21-year-old Ethan Rivera on Sunday inโ baltimore County.
The shooting has prompted heightened security concerns and a swift response fromโ law enforcement, as authorities investigate the โฃmotive behind theโฃ attack and its potential connection to theโ victim’s military service. Rivera was off-duty at the time of the shooting, and the incident โhas shaken the Maryland National Guard community. Kelleyโ is currently in custody and further details regarding theโฃ charges are anticipated.
According to a โฃstatement from U.S. Attorney Erek Barron, Kelley will be charged with first-degree murder and other related offenses.The shooting โคoccurred around 5:30โค p.m. Sunday inโ the 7700 block of Libertyโข Road inโ Randallstown, Maryland.โ
Baltimore County โขPolice responded to reports of aโฃ shooting and found Rivera with a gunshot wound. He was โฃtransported โขtoโค a local โขhospital where he later died. Kelley was apprehended shortly after โฃthe incident followingโฃ a searchโค involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
“We are committed to ensuring that justice isโฃ served in this case,” Barron said in a press release. “The โคlossโ of a young lifeโ is alwaysโ tragic,and we extend our deepest condolences to the Rivera family.”
The maryland National Guard confirmed โคrivera was a member of the 175th Cyber Operations โขGroup. Maryland Governor Wes โMoore ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Rivera.
The examination is ongoing,โฃ and authorities are urging anyone with information to come โฃforward. The case isโ being prosecuted by โฃthe U.S. Attorney’s โOffice for the District of Maryland.
