The shooting deaths of a man and woman whose bodies were found last week in an Arbutus apartment were an apparent murder-suicide, Baltimore County police said yesterday.
A medical examiner ruled the death of Donta Antwon Gross, 30, a suicide, and the death of Tashema Tameka Fitzgerald, 21, a homicide, said Bill Toohey, a county police spokesman.
Investigators believe Gross fatally shot Fitzgerald in the head and then shot himself, Toohey said.
The bodies were found by family members July 15 in the apartment they shared in the 4800 block of Westland Blvd. A gun believed to have been used in the shootings was found in the apartment, and there were no signs of forced entry, according to police.
Josh Mitchell
CCBC
Black named liberal arts dean
A 35-year veteran of the Community College of Baltimore County has been named the new dean of the School of Liberal Arts.
F. Scott Black, former chairman of performing arts and humanities for the school, will replace Steve Tanner, who retired. Black will be responsible for the development and evaluation of curriculum and programs with the School of Liberal Arts.
Since joining the community college in 1972, Black has worked to further the performing arts department, helping to found the Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre and gaining reaccreditations for the theater and music programs.
The Timonium resident earned his master's in fine arts in theater and directing from the Catholic University of America in Washington, and served in the Marine Corps before joining the staff of CCBC in 1972. He serves on the board of directors for the Children's Playhouse of Maryland and has directed and performed extensively throughout the region.
Middle River
Hot-air balloonist to speak
Hot-air balloonist Earl MacPherson will be the guest speaker at the next session of the aviation speaker program at the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum.
The program will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 6, in the Lockheed Martin Auditorium at 2323 Eastern Blvd., Middle River, adjacent to the Martin State Airport.
MacPherson, a licensed airplane pilot as well as a licensed hot-air balloonist, will touch on the history of hot-air ballooning and include an overview of the technology and operating procedures.
MacPherson served in the Air National Guard but has spent the past 20 years piloting balloons. He now works with clubs and the Federal Aviation Administration on hot-air balloon safety.
Admission is free, but a photo identification is required of all those attending.
Information: 410 682-6122.
Owings Mills
Republican club to meet
The North West Baltimore County Republican Club will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The meeting will be held at Hertzback & Co., 10 Music Fair Road, Owings Mills.
For information, call 410-526-0329 or e-mail molanoff@comcast.net.
Schools
$35,000 grant for science, math
The Baltimore County public school system has received $35,000 from the state to enhance science and mathematics in local schools.
The money, part of a $2 million statewide grant program, is to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs.
Eighteen school districts in the state received money from the program in amounts ranging from $10,000 to the $350,000 grant received by St. Mary's County. Baltimore City received $149,000.
Events or news items for the Baltimore County Digest may be submitted to baltco.news@baltsun.com. Information should be sent at least 10 days in advance of the event.