Crime & Safety
Teens Linked To Essex Shooting Showed Guns On FaceTime: Report
The two individuals charged in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Roman Wright were 15 and 17, and will both be tried as adults.
ESSEX, MD — Two teenagers charged in the fatal Monday shooting of 17-year-old Roman Wright had boasted about their intentions in a FaceTime group chat, according to a report.
An affidavit obtained by Fox45 details that two guns were flashed during a video call that included multiple people, and that the phrase "book the plug" was used in reference to Wright.
Authorities say the phrase is meant to indicate that the teens, ages 15 and 17, were going to be "robbing their dealer." After momentarily disappearing from the video, one of the teens later comes back into view, announces Wright was shot and instructs others in the chat not to "snitch."
Find out what's happening in Perry Hallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Related:
- Police ID Teen, Announce 2 Arrests In Fatal Essex Shooting
- Man, Woman Fatally Shot In Baltimore County's Essex: Police
As previously reported by Patch, the shooting occurred on the unit block of Bladen Road and later saw the two teens tied to the incident flee the scene.
Find out what's happening in Perry Hallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Baltimore County Police were first alerted to the scene around 11 a.m., although calls were for a car crash in the Essex area. It wasn't until officers arrived that they discovered Wright had suffered a gunshot wound.
While the 15-year-old boy in the case was arrested hours after the Monday shooting, the 17-year-old Messiah Edwards was not taken into police custody until after a barricade situation in Middle River on Tuesday.
Authorities say both teenagers remain in custody and will be tried as adults on first-degree murder charges.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.