WICOMICO CO. FATHER CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH FATAL SHOOTING OF YOUNG SON

(HEBRON, MD) – Maryland State Police tonight arrested a Wicomico County man and served an indictment that charged him in connection with the fatal shooting of his son that occurred earlier this month when the child accidentally shot himself with his father’s handgun.

The accused is identified as Jamal A. Woolford Sr., 29, of the 100-block of Old Railroad Road, Hebron, Md. Woolford has been charged in a Wicomico County Grand Jury indictment with the following charges: manslaughter, reckless endangerment, permitting firearm access by a minor, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine in a school zone, manufacturing cocaine, manufacturing cocaine in a school zone, possession of cocaine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession/use of a firearm involving a drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, possession of a regulated firearm knowing it to be stolen, theft of a firearm, and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Woolford is being held in the Wicomico County Detention Center without bond pending an initial appearance before a Circuit Court judge.

On the night of March 5, 2012, Maryland State Police were called to the residence of the accused for the report of a shooting. When troopers arrived, they found the son of the accused, Jamal A. Woolford Jr., 4, had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and the child’s mother, Shanice A. Kellam, 24, had also been wounded by a gunshot. The child was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Maryland State Police investigators determined the victim had gained access to a handgun that belonged to the accused and he kept in the bedroom. The child had accidentally shot himself and the round also wounded his mother who was asleep in bed.

Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators forwarded their investigation to the Wicomico County State’s Attorney. On March 26, 2012, a State Police homicide investigator presented the case evidence to a Wicomico County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury handed down an indictment yesterday for Jamal A. Woolford Sr., with the charges listed above.

Members of the Maryland State Police State Apprehension Team conducted a search for the accused today. He was located about 6:30 p.m. today with another person in a truck at a fast food restaurant in the 1200-block of Mt. Herman Road in Salisbury. Troopers arrested Woolford without incident.