NEWS RELEASE

HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF POLICE

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
For release: July 28, 2011 Contact: Sherry Llewellyn, Elizabeth Schroen sllewellyn@howardcountymd.gov 410-313-2236

Police investigating two unrelated homicides

Teen arrested in stabbing overnight; suspicious death from April ruled homicide
Howard County police are investigating two unrelated homicides; one that resulted from a stabbing last night and another from April in which a suspicious death of a child has been ruled a homicide by the medical examiners office. In last nights case, police have charged a Columbia teen with the stabbing murder of another teen in Long Reach. Xavier Trevon Bates, 18, of 9089 Lambskin Lane in Columbia, is charged with first- and second-degree murder and first- and second-degree assault. Police responded to the 8700 block of Airybrink Lane at approximately 10 p.m. last night for a reported stabbing. The victim, Christian Lendell Hall, 17, who lives at the location, was found by arriving officers in the apartment building hallway suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to Howard County General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Through investigation, detectives believe Bates and Hall were involved in a fight earlier in the day. Police believe the dispute was personal and was not gang- or drug-related. Detectives believe Bates came to Halls home last night to fight him again, forced his way into Halls apartment, stabbed him multiple times and fled on his bicycle. Witnesses at the scene called police. Bates returned to his home and was driven to Howard County General Hospital by a family member for treatment of a hand injury. He was arrested at the hospital and is being held at the Howard County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing. In the earlier case, police have just received an autopsy report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in a suspicious death case from April, ruling the manner of death as homicide. Police responded to the 9600 block of Basket Ring Road in Columbia on April 13 at approximately 4 a.m. for a report from a parent of a child not breathing. Elijah Izeal LaJeuness, 3, who lived in the home, was transported to Howard County General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Although there were no obvious signs of foul play at the scene, detectives began investigating the case as possibly suspicious. An initial examination as part of the autopsy process did not determine the manner of death. With further medical testing, the case has now been officially ruled as a homicide. The investigation is ongoing. There have been no other homicides in the county so far this year. ###