James Skarda IV dies in fatal Dundalk shooting
Fatal Dundalk shooting death of James Skarda IV
Baltimore County authorities have identified the two individuals killed in a tragic incident in Dundalk on Monday, which investigators are treating as a potential murder-suicide scenario. The identified victims are 35-year-old James Skarda IV and 37-year-old Ricky Stem. Police were dispatched to the 8200 block of Bullneck Road around 4:20 p.m. on Monday following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Skarda IV outside the residence, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso. Medical personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene. Stem was located nearby in a vehicle and was found to have sustained injuries consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby medical facility but later succumbed to his injuries.
Further details indicate that Stem, who is believed to be the suspected shooter, died from wounds that appeared to be self-inflicted. Police are currently examining the relationship between the two men to determine if they were acquainted. As of now, it remains unclear whether their paths crossed before the incident or if there was any known connection.
The location of the incident, the 8200 block of Bullneck Road, is described as a quiet residential area primarily consisting of single-family homes. The scene was separated from Stem’s location, which was found at the intersection of Dundalk Avenue and Liberty Parkway, by a short five-minute drive.
Officials with the county reported that this marks the 18th homicide victim in Baltimore County for the current year. This case echoes a similar incident that occurred several months earlier in Owings Mills. In April, authorities responded to a residence on Avery Hill Drive where Karen Franklin, aged 59, was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound, while her husband, Gary Franklin, aged 63, was also found deceased and later confirmed to have taken his own life. Both incidents highlight ongoing concerns regarding violent crime in the region.
