Police: 27 Year Old Woman Fatally Shot Outside Anne Arundel County Assisted Living Facility, Suspect Later Found Dead

Anne Arundel County Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 27 year old Baltimore woman outside the Morningside House of Friendship in the Hanover area of the county. The man police identified as the suspect was later found dead from what investigators described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to the Anne Arundel County Police Department, officers received multiple reports of a shooting at approximately 8:50 p.m. on September 11 in the 7500 block of Old Telegraph Road. Western District officers arrived and found an adult woman suffering from gunshot wounds.

Police said officers provided emergency medical aid while other officers established a perimeter after witnesses reported that the suspect had fled on foot into a large wooded area south of the facility. The Anne Arundel County Fire Department took over care of the woman, who was pronounced deceased at the scene due to the severity of her injuries.

The victim was identified by police as Ms. Asia Natee Virginia Thomas, 27, of Baltimore. Investigators said Ms. Thomas had just finished her shift at Morningside House of Friendship and was sitting outside the building with Mr. Deontae Tranell Bryant, 25, of Aberdeen. According to the department's preliminary investigation, an altercation occurred and Mr. Bryant allegedly shot Ms. Thomas before fleeing. Police said the two knew each other.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department's Special Operations Division Quick Response Team and Canine Teams assisted in the search. Support was also provided by the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department and Maryland Natural Resources Police, with both ground and air units searching the wooded area.

After several hours without locating the suspect, the search was temporarily concluded, while Western District patrol officers remained in the area throughout the night.

Police said evidence collected overnight by Homicide Unit investigators led to a second search during daylight hours. During that search, Quick Response Team members located Mr. Bryant, who police said had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Anne Arundel County Police Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.