The Columbia man police allege shot and hospitalized a boy in Long Reach appeared in court Monday on additional charges of theft and sex offenses.
Tion Bell, 18, of Columbia, is accused of accidentally shooting the 4-year-old in the forehead in January.
On unrelated charges, he appeared in Howard County Circuit Court on Monday accused of a consensual sex offense on a 13-year-old girl and the theft of more than $10,000 worth of jewelry from the girl?s grandparents.
In Monday?s motions hearing, Bell won a small victory when his Lutherville attorney, Joseph Murtha, persuaded Judge Diane Leasure to allow Bell?s sex offense and theft cases to be tried separately, because the separate charges would have an “inherently prejudicial” affect on a jury.
In the shooting case, police accuse Bell of shooting at a 16-year-old boy after an argument near the 8700 block of Airybrink Lane.
Police said a bullet from that alleged shooting crashed through a window and struck Fahad Islam in the head as he was standing near his family apartment?s window.
The boy was treated at the John?s Hopkins Children Center and returned home shortly after. Police said gunshot residue was found on Bell?s clothing.
Bell?s family and friends have said Bell did not shoot Islam. They said police have been harassing the family on bogus charges and have repeatedly come to their residence looking for evidence that?s not there. Jennifer Arnold, Bell?s girlfriend, said the police “harassment” has eased up since the family recently hired Murtha.
What?s next
» Tion Bell, 18, of Columbia, is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 28 for charges of attempted murder in the accidental shooting of a 4-year-old boy in Long Reach in January.
