HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Nearly five years after a pregnant woman and her newborn baby died following a shooting in Columbia, police have arrested a 31-year-old man and charged him with their murders.
Key Points
- Edward Robinson, 31, arrested April 9 and charged with double murder
- Rabiah Ahmad, 30, was killed in July 2020 while 28 weeks pregnant
- Her baby girl, Ahja, died five days later after emergency delivery
Gunfire struck Columbia home in 2020, killing mother and infant
On July 31, 2020, Howard County officers responded to reports of gunfire on Dovecote Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered that a home had been struck by multiple rounds fired from outside. Inside, 30-year-old Rabiah Ahmad had been shot while 28 weeks pregnant.
Medics rushed her to the hospital, where she died. Doctors delivered her baby girl, Ahja, who survived for five days before also dying.
Detectives determined Ahmad was likely not the intended target of the shooting. She had recently moved into the residence, which was shared by several individuals.
Cold case breakthrough leads to arrest
After open for 4 years, the case become transferred to the Howard County Police Cold Case Unit in September 2024.Investigators received a tip indicating that Edward Robinson had a conflict with other residents at the home prior to the shooting.
Police believe the dispute escalated, prompting Robinson to allegedly fire into the house as a warning. A search of Robinson’s Columbia home on April 9 revealed ammunition matching the projectiles from the scene. He was arrested in Gaithersburg the same day.
Robinson faces two counts each of first- and second-degree murder, along with assault and handgun charges. He is being held with out bond on the Howard County Detention Center.