Smithsburg, Maryland: Last night Maryland State Police spokeswoman Elena Russo issued a statement confirming that four people, including two juveniles, were found deceased in a vehicle just across the Maryland state line after an attempt was made by Pennsylvania State Police to stop a vehicle they believed to be related to an earlier car jacking that had taken place in Baltimore County.
Russo would not confirm the identities of the individuals citing an ongoing investigation and need to notify next of kin, but did state that a female was found in the front seat of the vehicle and a male in the back with the two juveniles. All four victims appeared to have gunshot wounds.
Thee of the four were pronounced dead at the scene. One of the juveniles was air-lifted to a hospital in Hagerstown where she was pronounced deceased.
York Area Regional Police Department Chief Timothy Damon described the attempt to stop the suspect vehicle as, "That vehicle failed to yield and began to drive erratically. During that erratic driving, the vehicle eventually drifted off the roadway and came to a stop."
According to Russo, Maryland State Troopers responded to assist at the scene, including a crisis negotiation team that "made several attempts to contact the occupants of the vehicle."
"After receiving no response and low visibility within the vehicle because of a thick layer of smoke that was contained in the interior of the vehicle, police made entry into the passenger side."