BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A 23-year-old man is dead and a 22-year-old is injured after a stabbing in Columbia Monday night.

Howard County police officers were called to the Trellis Center in the 10700 block of Hickory Ridge Road at 9:40 p.m., where they found the victims.

Both victims were transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

James Fallin Jr., 23, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Warner Jackson, 22, was treated and released. Both men are from Columbia.

Investigators say Fallin and Jackson entered the convenience store at the Trellis Center and became involved in an altercation with a suspect, described as an adult black male.

The suspect then stabbed the victims and fled with an adult female, authorities say.

“I’ve been living here for about a year now,” Aaron Greenfield said. “Just bought a house up the street. Wonderful area.”

“Yeah that’s shocking really. I’m shocked,” Christina Bell said.

Police are offering a reward of $5,000 reward for information that may lead to an arrest.

“Right now police are continuing to investigate if there are connections between the victims and the suspect or what the altercation, what the motive was in the attack,” said Howard County Police PIO Seth Hoffman.

Columbia has had six homicides this year, and this latest incident in a city that’s been called one of the safest in the country, has rattled residents.

“Especially to know bat we live around the corner, I didn’t expect to hear that. It just shook me up like a little more,” Erica Wallace said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 410–313–STOP or email hcpdcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.

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