Crime & Safety

Baltimore Man Charged with Murder in Pikesville Ramada Inn Shooting

Police say the gunman and the victim knew each other.

Baltimore County Police have charged a 24-year-old Baltimore man with first-degree murder related to a May 13 shooting at a Pikesville hotel.

Ricardo Anthony Beckford, of the 3400 block of W. Northern Parkway, is being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center. He is charged with the shooting death of Richard Francis outside the Ramada Inn, in the 1700 block of Reisterstown Road.

"Detectives determined that there was an argument between Richard Francis and Ricardo Beckford, who were acquaintances," shortly before the shooting, according to a Baltimore County Police Department statement.

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"The victim left the hotel and entered his vehicle, which was parked outside the lobby. Ricardo Beckford pulled his vehicle beside the victim, and fired a handgun into Richard Francis’ car, fatally wounding him," according to the police department statement.

Police were called to the Ramada Inn for a report of shots fired shortly after 11 p.m. May 13.

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Officers found Francis, 31, of the 2500 block of Edgecombe Circle in Baltimore, lying in the parking lot. He had been shot multiple times, police said.

Francis was taken to Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to a news release from police.


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