COLUMBIA, Md. — In a significant ruling, a judge has declared Emmetson Zeah guilty of the tragic murder of two teenage boys near the Mall in Columbia in February 2025.
At just 19 years old, Zeah was found guilty on several serious charges, which included two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, witness intimidation, reckless endangerment, escape, and various other firearm-related offenses.
Despite these convictions, he was acquitted on one charge of obstruction of justice.
On February 22, authorities from the Howard County Police responded to urgent calls reporting gunfire in the vicinity of Lidl, located on Little Patuxent Parkway.
When officers arrived, they found one of the victims, 16-year-old Michael Robertson, who was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
The second victim, 15-year-old Blake McCray, was rushed to Shock Trauma but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
According to the charging documents, a GPS monitor mandated by the court pinpointed Zeah’s location at the scene of the crime.
READ: GPS monitoring ordered by the court leads police to the alleged shooter near Columbia Mall
Zeah reportedly confessed to law enforcement that he was the one who shot the victims. He indicated that the firearm used during the incident was connected to another shooting he was involved in on Valentine’s Day. Zeah claimed he was merely returning fire at a juvenile who had allegedly opened fire on him first.
A witness also identified Zeah as the shooter and linked him to a separate incident involving a stabbing that took place near Mystic Court.
State’s Attorney Rich Gibson commented, “This was a senseless and heartbreaking act of violence that prematurely took the lives of two young individuals, leaving their families shattered. While no verdict can reverse that loss, today’s ruling ensures accountability and sends a strong message that our community will not accept such violence. Our thoughts remain with the families of the victims as they navigate their grief.”
According to officials, Zeah’s sentencing is set for May 22, 2026.
