Victim

Annapolis police have released the names of a shooting victim and two men who died of suspected drug overdoses on Sunday, all three of whom appeared to be from Calvert County. Police believe John Donnel Ray, 32, of the 4600 block of Rolling Hill Road, Huntingtown, was shot in his car in the 200 block of Victor Parkway, according to Detective Richard Truitt. He was found dead in the vehicle. He said detectives think there may be witnesses to the crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Charles Bealefeld at 443-986-5561.

Baltimore County police on Monday identified two people who died when the driver of a 2013 Ford Mustang flipped the vehicle on Route 40, near Martin Boulevard early Sunday. Emil Antonio Ledesma Vargas, 29, of the 300 block of Endsleigh Avenue, and Josseline Rico-Hernandez, 25, of the 9700 block of Matzon Road, both in Middle River, were pronounced dead at the scene. A third passenger, a 25-year-old male, was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Shame on the senators who defied public opinion and voted to defeat the Manchin-Toomey bill to expand background checks for gun purchases ("Senate rejects expanded checks on gun purchases," April 18). There is blood on the hands of those who voted to kill this bill. Patriotic Americans will move heaven and Earth to make certain they are defeated at the polls when they stand for re-election. Sen. Harry Reid doesn't get away scot free in this incident. He had an opportunity early in the session to modify or eliminate the filibuster rule that has caused so much harm to the nation, and he declined to do it. Without that rule , the measure would have passed.

Sixty-six runners dashed, jogged and walked through the streets of Annapolis on Saturday to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and raised money for one of the hospitals that treated their wounds. "When I saw what happened in Boston, I knew we had to do something, and we had to run," said Caitlin Chapman, who organized the race and got quick permission from an Annapolis official to stage the start and finish at City Dock. "It could have been any of us running in that race in Boston," Chapman said, "and it could have been our family members who were standing there watching us finish.

Running Charm City Run to honor victims of marathon bombing Charm City Run will join independent running stores across America in hosting a "Runners For Boston" fun run Monday at 6:30 p.m. Runners are encouraged to meet at the Annapolis, Baltimore, Bel Air or Clarksville store locations and wear past or present Boston Marathon gear or other Boston-related clothing. For more information, contact info@charmcityrunonline.com . Salisbury Shark Run: The Salisbury rugby team will host the Miles For Mom Shark Run on Sunday.

Americans' hearts going out to the victims of the marathon bombing in Boston, which means, of course, con artists will have to take advantage of that. The Federal Trade Commission is warning people to be leery of charity solicitations from telemarketers. The agency advises people to: -- Ask for the charity's name if the telemarketer doesn't provide it immediately. (This alone should be a warning sign if the solicitor isn't forthcoming) -- Find out what percentage of your gift will go to the cause.

The words "victims" and "celebration" don't often go hand in hand, but this week the Historic Courtroom of the Circuit Court Building in Annapolis hosted a Victims' Rights Week Celebration honoring residents and criminal justice professionals who work with victims of crime. The Victim-Witness Unit, a department of the county state's attorney's office that works to help victims of all types of crime, organized Wednesday's ceremony and luncheon. The unit has victim-witness specialists based in county courthouses.

Police on Wednesday identified the man killed near the east edge of Leakin Park on Tuesday afternoon. Andrew Morris, 21, of the 1300 block of Division St., was found unresponsive in the 3800 block of Clifton Ave. at about 4:15 p.m., Baltimore police said. Paramedics responded and transported him to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:50 p.m. Baltimore police have no suspect or motives and detectives are investigating, police spokesman Det. Vernon Davis said. jgeorge@baltsun.com Twitter.com/justingeorge

After two days of heavy sedation, Erika Brannock awoke Wednesday morning in her hospital bed to dramatic and gruesome news: Her left leg had been amputated below the knee, the only medical option for a team of surgeons handling traumatic injuries from the Boston Marathon bombings. The 29-year-old Towson preschool teacher took the news with courage, relatives said. Then, unable to speak because of a ventilator tube, she wrote out a simple message: She wanted to see photos of her students.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has ordered the Maryland flag to be flown at half staff in memory of the victims of “the senseless acts of violence” at the Boston Marathon on Monday. The announcement follows a proclamation Tuesday from President Barack Obama, who ordered the U.S. flag flown at half-staff at federal buildings, military bases and embassies throughout the world “as a mark of respect” for the victims. The flags are to remain at half staff each day until sunset on Saturday.