Police offer reward up to $2,500 for information in Columbia shooting tied to car rally

Howard County police are offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information in the April 27 shooting in Columbia tied to an illegal car rally.
 
One person, Noel Balladares-Arita, 24, of Falls Church, Va., was killed in the shooting. Six other people were injured -- two remain in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the other four have been discharged. All of the victims are from Virginia, and police believe many if not all of the participants in the car rally also are from Virginia and are known to one another. Detectives also believe there were multiple shooters. The motive remains under investigation. 
 
Police responded to a parking garage in the 6700 block of Alexander Bell Drive at approximately 5:27 a.m. on April 27 for a report of the shooting. Balladares-Arita was pronounced dead at the scene and a 19-year-old female was transported from there to the hospital. In the following hours, five other victims walked into area hospitals: three 20-year-old males, an 18-year-old male, and a 16-year-old female. Two of the 20-year-olds remain at the hospital.   
 
Anyone with information should contact police at 410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov. You may remain anonymous.
 
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