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Who is Jewel Crowder? Baltimore man faces murder charges for fatally shooting off-duty sheriff's deputy

Jewel Crowder was arrested as a suspect in the killing of Ryan Demby, who was fatally shot during an altercation in front of a Baltimore bar

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: Jewel Crowder, 40, a suspect in the murder of an off-duty Howard County deputy in Federal Hill, was arrested on Saturday, September 30.

Baltimore Police Department stated that the suspect was taken into custody by SWAT and the Warrant Apprehension Task Force around 5.30 pm.

As per sources, Crowder has been charged with first-degree murder, as per CBS News. 

Ryan Demby was shot by Jewel Crowder during a bar brawl

Ryan Demby, a 23-year-old deputy at the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, was in a Baltimore bar early morning on Friday, September 29, when a "verbal argument broke out between other patrons," as per the social media post by the sheriff's office, as per AP. 

City Councilman Eric Costello stated in a news release that the incident began just inside the bar’s front door and carried over outside.

The altercation led to gunshots, and that is when Demby was hit. Baltimore police officials who arrived at the scene found him with "numerous life-threatening gunshot wounds."

Medics arrived shortly after and Demby was rushed to Shock Trauma where he was pronounced dead.

"While the circumstances surrounding what happened are still being investigated, the entire incident was caught on camera," said acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley, and added, "That along with witness testimony enabled us to act quickly to identify the suspect."

Ryan Demby had recently become Howard County Sheriff's Deputy

"He just finished the academy in March, and I knew he was a good person and a good young man. That's why I chose to put him through the academy," mentioned Howard County Sheriff Marcus Harris about Ryan Demby's current post as a Sheriff's Deputy. 

"He simply wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. His father has over 30 years of experience on the job he's a sergeant with the sheriff's department, and I'm going to truly miss him and his father's interactions within our agency," added the sheriff. 

Maryland Governor Wes Moore released a statement upon the death of the deputy, saying, "My heart goes out to the friends, family, and colleagues of Ryan Demby–and all those who knew him and loved him. In raising his hand to serve as sheriff's deputy, he made the courageous choice to protect our communities–and should still be with us today," as per AP. 

Baltimore Police urges anyone with more information related to the shooting to contact their homicide detectives at 410-396-2100.