BALTIMORE, MD – The Baltimore law enforcement community is in mourning following the tragic shooting of a Howard County deputy. Jewel Crowder, a 40-year-old Baltimore resident, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the incident. The victim, Deputy Ryan Alexander Demby, was only 23 years old.
The Howard County Sheriff’s Office reports that the fatal incident unfolded at a local bar in the early hours of Friday. An altercation among patrons escalated, resulting in gunfire. Deputy Demby was caught in the crossfire. City Councilman Eric Costello stated that the confrontation started inside the bar before spilling out onto the street.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found Demby critically injured from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the young deputy did not survive. Crowder was arrested without any complications.
The entire incident was caught on camera, according to Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley. The footage, coupled with witness statements, led to the swift identification and arrest of Crowder.
Sheriff Marcus Harris of Howard County, during a press briefing, remembered Demby as an “exceptional young man” who had chosen to follow his father into law enforcement. Demby’s father serves as a sergeant in the department. A recent police academy graduate, Demby’s career was cut tragically short.
Deputy Demby is the 208th homicide victim in Baltimore for 2023. The city has recorded a total of 498 shooting victims this year.