JOPPA, MD – A suspect in Saturday night’s shooting in Joppa has been arrested. Harford County detectives have arrested Malik Burns, 27, of Edgewood for the shooting of Da’Shawn Betterson, 24.
At approximately 7:26 p.m., patrol deputies assigned to the Southern Precinct of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 300 block of Ellsworth Place in Joppa for the report of a shooting.
“The adult male victim, identified as Da’Shawn Betterson, 24, of Edgewood, was located in a townhouse with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower body. Deputies arrived on scene and immediately began to render aid until relieved by personnel from the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company,” the Harford County Sheriff’s Office reported today. “Betterson was then airlifted to a local trauma center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries by Maryland State Police Medivac Helicopter.”
An investigation by police who canvassed the area in the aftermath determined Malik Burns, 27, of Edgewood was the primary suspect in the shooting.
According to police the location was the scene of an earlier altercation between the victim and suspect in the parking lot of a nearby Papa John’s Pizza.
“Investigators from the Forensic Services Unit responded to the area to collect and preserve physical evidence in support of the investigation. At this time, while the motive remains under investigation, detectives believe Burns followed Betterson to the Ellsworth Place address to assault him,” police said. “Early Sunday morning, Burns was located, and with assistance from the Special Response Team and members of the Special Investigations Division, arrested and charged with Attempted 1st and 2nd degree murder, 1st degree assault and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony.”