An 18-year-old high school senior was fatally shot after a Facebook Marketplace transaction went awry.
The incident occurred on November 26, 2023, in Baltimore, Maryland’s Mosher neighborhood. Carlos Carrazana Ricardo and a friend drove about 80 miles from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Baltimore with the intention of purchasing a 2006 Acura TL advertised on the platform.
Ricardo, a recent immigrant from Cuba and a senior at J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was passionate about cars and football. He decided not to proceed with the purchase after viewing the vehicle.
As he and his friend began to leave the meeting place in the 2800 block of Harlem Avenue, shots were fired, with one striking him in the head. Despite his friend’s efforts to seek help, Ricardo died from his injuries shortly thereafter at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center.
The investigation led the police to Marques Harris, 18, who was identified by Ricardo’s friend as the seller of the car. Upon executing a search warrant at Harris’ home, police found a Glock 9mm handgun, among other items.
Harris, in his statement to the detectives, acknowledged that he and his brother were the sellers of the car. However, he claimed to have heard gunshots after the sale was called off and had left the area with his brother. Surveillance footage from the area showed the vehicle used by Harris and his brother leaving the scene just a minute after the shots were detected by ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system.
Harris was arrested and faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and other gun-related charges. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on January 3 .
Ricardo’s death has deeply impacted his school community. The principal of J.P. McCaskey High School, Dr. Justin Reese, expressed the profound loss felt and requested the school community to keep Ricardo’s family, friends, and the school in their thoughts during this difficult time.
