MIDDLE RIVER, Md. — Tucked just off of Eastern Boulevard in Middle River, South Hawthorne Road had grown silent in the wee hours of the morning Sunday when Peggy Fauber was aroused from her sleep.
"The speaking got loud and then 'Bang! Bang! Bang!' I mean really, really loud. It woke me up," said Fauber.
There was no mistaking the sound of a gun firing.
"My bedroom is right there, and I heard three loud shots, and of course you know I had to look outside to see what's going on,” said Fauber. “This is my neighborhood you know."
When officers arrived, they discovered the body of 18-year-old Antonio Michael Hudgins.
"He looked to be suffering from a gunshot wound,” said Ofc. Jennifer Peach with the Baltimore County Police Department. “Medics came out and responded to the scene. They pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. At this point, the investigation is ongoing as to what occurred prior to that shooting that caused this young man's death."
Now, a mylar balloon, a few bundles of flowers and candles mark the location where Hudgins lost his life, and police are hoping neighbors saw something or home security cameras may have captured some image, which could lead them to a killer.
In the meantime, Hawthorne's longtime residents are taking stock of their once-quiet neighborhood calling the shooting disturbing, unexpected and too close for comfort.
"The one police officer whose car was parked right there... you know all of the police had flashlights looking for shell casings,” said Fauber. “They checked the whole entire street and found one right there in front of my house."
