2 charged in Columbia killing

Two Baltimore County men, including the alleged shooter, have been charged in the May killing of a Howard County man who was found shot on a Columbia parking lot, police said yesterday.

Daymar L. Wimbish, 18, and Lamont Anthony Johnson, 24, both of Owings Mills, were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and attempted armed robbery, according to Howard County police.

They are suspected in the killing of Jason Pridgen Batts, 23, of Columbia, who was found dead on the parking lot of Stevens Forest Apartments about 3 a.m. May 17. Three days later, Howard County police arrested 21-year-old Ronald McConnell, who investigators believe ordered the shooting, according to charging documents. Last month, a grand jury indicted McConnell on 11 counts, including first-degree murder, attempted armed robbery and assault.

McConnell was arrested after investigators found his fingerprint on the buttstock of a shotgun found at the scene of the shooting, police said.

Police believe that Wimbish was in the area at the time of the incident and, according to cell phone records, tried to call one of the two people who were with Batts. Police think Wimbish was trying to lure the man on the phone to the place where the shooting occurred.

Wimbish, who police said was charged July 3, is being held without bond at the Howard County Detention Center. Johnson, charged yesterday, is being held in Baltimore County on unrelated charges and was served an arrest warrant, according to Howard County police.