It was a killing so gruesome, so unusual, so public, that police say it was meant to send a message.
“It was like overkill,” said Detective Vincent Stevenson of the killing last month of Terrance Randolph. “This is a community where no matter what time of day you go around, there are kids outside playing.”
Randolph?s beaten, stabbed and burned body wasfound in the early evening of April 12 in an alley behind the 1900 block of Division Street. His mouth had been duct-taped and his hands were tied behind his back, police said.
Baltimore police are now searching the city for Shamvoy Smith, 34, in connection with Randolph?s death. Smith is an “extremely dangerous” high-ranking member of the Bloods gang, police said, and officers were warned this week to be cautious approaching him.
Smith, who is also known as “Don Papa,” is already wanted in California on charges of using an AK-47 during an armed robbery, Stevenson said. Smith is known to get around ? police traced his criminal history to North Carolina, Miami and Los Angeles, Stevenson said.
Another suspect, 18-year-old Janet Johnson, was arrested May 3 on murder and assault charges in the same case.
Witnesses said Johnson was one in a group of people who, on the night of April 11 and into the next morning, beat and stabbed Randolph, according to charging documents.
Anyone with information on Smith or the crime may be eligible for a cash reward, and can remain anonymous, by calling Metro Crime Stoppers at 410-276-8888.
