Rosedale Man Among 5 Charged in North East Teen's Murder

By Elizabeth Janney

Five people, including a Rosedale man, are facing murder charges in connection with the death of 19-year-old Kenny Lee Curry, who was fatally shot in North East Tuesday morning, according to the Cecil County Sheriff's Office.

William L. Dodson, 21, of Rosedale was one of four people who allegedly participated in a home invasion at approximately 12:30 a.m. Tuesday expecting to steal money and drugs from Curry, the sheriff's office said.

Curry was in his apartment in the 300 block of E. Cecil Avenue with three other people when William L. Dodson, 21, of Rosedale, visited to purchase illegal drugs, according to police.

While on his way out, Dodson texted his alleged accomplices, two men and two women, to come in, police said. The group was wearing masks and ordered those inside to get face-down on the floor, police said.

According to the sheriff's office, Justin Leander Jones, 25, of the unit block of Post Road in Aberdeen, approached Curry and demanded that he "hand over the stuff," and when Curry said he didn't have anything, Jones pistol-whipped him.

Curry scuffled with Jones, grabbed the gun and shot Jones, police said.

Devon Tyler Ellwood, 18, of Elkton, shot Curry, police said.

Curry was later taken to Christiana Hospital and pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the torso, the sheriff's office said.

Police told CecilDaily.com that Curry was selling heroin and marijuana and that was the premise for the home invasion.

Before leaving the residence, the suspects took a Mason jar containing marijuana and then left in a nearby vehicle, according to police.

Dodson took Jones, who suffered two gunshot wounds, to Union Hospital, where doctors alerted police due to the nature of the injury and officers began piecing together the case, according to CecilDaily.com.

Jones was transferred to Christiana Hospital, where he remained in critical condition Wednesday, according to the sheriff's office.

Jones and the four others suspects were charged with first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, armed robbery and use of a handgun in committing a felony, police said.

According to the sheriff's office, the suspects were Jones; Dodson; Ellwood; Tabitha C. Nelson, 23, of Elkton; and Angela L. Williams, 22, of Conowingo. They were taken into custody and are being held at Cecil County Correctional Center, where they were denied bail. A warrant is out for Jones' arrest so he will be charged and committed upon his release from the hospital, police said.

A Tuesday night vigil was held for Curry in North East Park, drawing 200 people, and another is planned for Saturday, ABC 2 News reported.