Three charged in teens attempted murder

MARRIOTTSVILLE, Md. (WMAR) - Howard County Police have arrested and charged three people in connection with the attempted murder of 15-year-old Sterling Watts last month.

Donald George Peoples, Jr., 21, Laura Christian Karr, 24 and Chiquita Sketers, 21, were all charged with attempted first and second degree murder, kidnapping, first and second degree assault and gun charges.

Peoples and Karr were arrested overnight at Karr's Baltimore County home. Ronald Melvin Cox, Jr., was shot and killed during that arrest after police say he swung a sword at one of the arresting officers. Sketers was arrested at later this afternoon.

The victim, Watts was found in a field in Howard County suffering from a gunshot wound to the back of the head on June 19. He was released from the hospital on July 11.

Detectives believe Peoples and Karr abducted Watts as he walked near his home and forced him in a car. They stopped at a home in Randallstown to pick up Sketers, who got into the car with a long barrel rifle, laded it with ammunition and told Watts that he was going to die.

Investigators believe as Watts walked away, Peoples shot him in the head.

Police say the car used in the crime was also seen driving through Karr's neighborhood selling illegal drugs.

All three are being held in the Howard County Detention Center.