Day: April 30, 2019

Police Continue Investigation into Weekend Shooting in Essex

Baltimore County Police continue to investigate a shooting in the 1100 block of Tace Drive in Essex that occurred just before midnight on Saturday.

Police located an adult male and an adult female victim upon their arrival, both suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body. Both were taken to area hospitals with life-threatening wounds. The suspect(s) fled prior to police arrival. The female victim died a few days later. She was identified as Jessica Holly Diotte, 27, of the 2100 block of Southorn Road in Middle River. 

Anyone with information regarding this shooting is asked to contact BCoPD detectives by calling 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous.

Reward Offered

Metro Crime Stoppers, an organization that is separate from the Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore County Government, offers rewards for information in connection with felony offenses.

Anonymous tips can be sent to Metro Crime Stoppers by phone, online or via mobile app.

County wraps a forest around Shady Spring Elementary School

County Executive Johnny Olszewski celebrated Arbor Day on April 26 with Shady Spring Elementary School students and staff, planting trees to complete a 2.5-acre reforestation project that surrounds the schoolyard with native trees.

“Trees are critical infrastructure for our communities and for our environment, and it makes perfect sense for us to replace underutilized lawn space in schoolyards with forested acreage that reduces air pollution, absorbs stormwater and provides shade to help cut energy costs,” said Olszewski. “We appreciate our partners in the school system for helping us make a difference that will span generations.”

The Shady Spring Elementary School project is a 2.5-acre native tree planting along the perimeter of the school property. Students had the opportunity to plant and monitor the newly planted trees, meeting several Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards and Maryland Green School objectives.

The project is a result of a partnership between the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (EPS) and BCPS’ Office of Science, called Comprehensive Landscape Improvement Projects. Since 2014, they have reforested 39 acres and planted 196 landscape-style trees at 37 schools.

EPS’ approach to planting on school property focuses on planting trees on underutilized school lawns to increase the County’s tree canopy and reduce BCPS’ long-term mowing costs. In addition to these plantings, EPS also planted 957 native shade trees from 2011 through 2012 at 46 County schools and other facilities under EPS’ Cool Trees program.