Reward Offered For Tips In Fatal Shooting At Illegal Car Rally

COLUMBIA, MD — A reward of up to $2,500 has been offered for information about the April 27 shooting that happened at an illegal car rally at a parking garage in Columbia.

Noel Balladares-Arita, 24, of Falls Church, Virginia, was killed in the shooting. Six other people were injured -- two remain in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the other four have been discharged.

All of the victims are from Virginia, and police believe many if not all of the participants in the car rally also are from Virginia and knew each another. Detectives also believe there were multiple shooters. The motive remains under investigation, the Howard County Police Department stated.

Police responded to a parking garage in the 6700 block of Alexander Bell Drive at approximately 5:27 a.m. on April 27 for a report of the shooting. Balladares-Arita was pronounced dead at the scene and a 19-year-old female was taken from there to the hospital. In the following hours, five other victims walked into area hospitals: three 20-year-old men, an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old female. Two of the 20-year-olds remain at the hospital.

Anyone with information should contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov. You may remain anonymous.