Fallston, MD – A ticketed Fourth of July house party turned deadly early Sunday morning when gunfire broke out among roughly 100 guests gathered at a home on Willow Vale Drive, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said the party was organized by the adult son of the homeowner, Sharonda Ellerby, who was reportedly in New Orleans at the time and had no idea the event was taking place at her house. Tickets were sold online for around $50 each, and the host had hired armed security guards to monitor the event.
Shooting Occurred as Guests Were Leaving the Party
The shooting happened as attendees were walking down the driveway toward the street. According to Harford County Sheriff’s Col. William Davis, the party wound down around midnight, and some kind of dispute broke out among people leaving the property, which quickly escalated into gunfire. No calls for service had been made to that address before the shooting occurred.
Two men were shot outside the residence. Jordan Jennings, 23, of Windsor Mill, was rushed to the hospital by fellow partygoers and later died from his injuries. Joseph Evans, 34, of Owings Mills, was found in the garage suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was airlifted to the hospital and remains in critical but stable condition.
Investigators noted that despite hiring armed security, it remains unclear what role, if any, the guards played once shots were fired. Col. Davis pointed out the irony of needing armed protection for a private gathering, suggesting that the decision to hire security should have been a warning sign that something could go wrong.
Investigation Complicated by Out-of-Town Crowd
Authorities have not identified a single attendee who was actually from Harford County. Guests reportedly traveled from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and other outside areas to attend the party, including both victims. This is expected to slow down the investigation considerably as detectives track down and interview witnesses scattered across the region.
Deputies are currently reviewing surveillance footage, shell casing evidence, and witness statements to determine exactly how the altercation unfolded and who opened fire. As of Monday, no arrests had been made, and no charges had been filed.
The case has also drawn attention because of a social media post from Ellerby that included a photo of her with former Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. His office clarified that the two had only met in 2019, when Ellerby advocated for housing legislation, and that there had been no contact between them since then.
Neighbors described the shooting as highly unusual for the quiet Fallston area, noting that incidents like this rarely happen there.
Anyone with information about the shooting, including video footage, is urged to contact Detective Thumma at 443-567-7201. Tips can also be submitted anonymously.
