BALTIMORE – A man killed three members of his family before confessing to a 911 dispatcher and subsequently turning the gun on himself in Howard County, Maryland. The motive behind the tragic incident is currently under investigation.
Late on Thursday evening, multiple calls for gunshots were reported in the Belmont Station community in Elkridge, near Route 1 and Route 100. Police rushed to the scene after receiving these distressing calls and detailed the events in dispatch recordings obtained by WJZ.
Authorities have since identified the shooting suspect as 61-year-old Nayyar Abbas Syed. Although Syed did not reside in the townhome in the 6900 block of Norwood Ferry, he frequently visited his other relatives who lived there. According to the police, Syed opened fire on his family members before ultimately shooting himself. The motive behind the tragic act remains unknown.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers found a total of six people inside the residence, with five having sustained gunshot wounds. Tragically, Syed’s wife, 57-year-old Syeda Aalia Nayyar, his 25-year-old daughter Syeda Fatima, and his 33-year-old daughter-in-law Alizey Fatima were declared dead at the scene. The 31-year-old son was critically injured and was rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for medical attention.
Syed’s 3-month-old granddaughter, however, was found unharmed in the home. She underwent a wellness check at the hospital and is now in the custody of a family member.
According to police reports, the suspect called 911 himself to confess to the heinous crime. He later passed away at Saint Agnes Hospital. The exact contents of the call remain undisclosed as the investigation is ongoing.
Authorities have stated that there are no prior criminal records for Syed and that no calls for service had been previously made to the residence. They are currently examining cell phone records and text messages to assist in determining the motive behind the devastating incident.
This heartbreaking event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of community support in times of tragedy, as the surviving family members face the difficult task of healing from this unimaginable loss.