FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  

For Information Contact:                Margaret T. Burns
                                                      Chief, Communications & Governmental Affairs
                                                      Office(443)984-1121                                                       
                                                      Cell Phone (443) 474-7479
                                                       Fax Phone (410) 637-3172
                                                                       or
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PRESS RELEASE

BALTIMORE CITY GRAND JURY INDICTS 16-YEAR OLD ASMAR RASHAD HOLLAND FOR TWO SEPARATE MURDERS

Baltimore, MD -- February 27, 2004 -- State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy announced today that the Baltimore City Grand Jury returned separate indictments on Thursday, February 26, 2004 charging Asmar Rashad Holland, 16, of the 700 block of Bartlett Street with two counts of first-degree murder. 

Court documents allege that on May 18, 2002 Holland shot and killed Joseph Harris, 16.  Court documents further allege that on December 1, 2003 Holland shot and killed

            Earl Ross, 39, at his home in the 600 block of Bartlett Street.  No motive is known as to why either of the murders occurred. 

Holland is being held on a no-bail status at the Baltimore City Detention Center.  An arraignment is scheduled for April 15, 2004 before the Honorable Paul Smith, 228 Courthouse East, 111 N. Calvert Street. 

Assistant State’s Attorney David Mabrey of the Homicide Division will handle this case. 

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