Man Charged In Edgewood Fatal Shooting

An Edgewood area man was arrested and charged Tuesday after allegedly shooting and killing an Edgewood teen and injuring another last week in what police believe may have started as a drug deal.

Garfield Smith III, 21, with addresses in the 1600 block of Candlewood Court in Edgewood and the 500 block of Magnolia Ridge Drive in Joppa, Was charged Tuesday with first- and second-degree murder, attempted first- and second-degree murder and eight related charges, online court records show.

The charges stem from a Jan. 31 shooting in Edgewood. Around 10:36 p.m. that night, Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to the 1600 block of Candlewood Court after shots were fired in the area, according to a release from the sheriff's office.

Within minutes, deputies found Michael Wayne Kearins, 17, and Christopher Thomas Cousins, 18, both of the 1900 block of Harewood Road in Edgewood, suffering from gunshot wounds in Cunion Recreational Park off Trimble Road, next to Candlewood Court, the release states.

Kearins was taken to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air where he was pronounced dead. Cousins was flown by medevac helicopter to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore where he was listed in good condition Wednesday, police say.

Detectives are investigating the possibility that Cousins and Kearins went to the park to buy marijuana when they were shot, according to the release.

Smith was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon when deputies saw him riding as a passenger in a car in the Edgewater Village Community. He was being held without bail at Harford County Detention Center Wednesday morning.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. March 4 in Harford County District Court.