Halloween Murder Stuns Silver Spring Family

SILVER SPRING, Md. (WUSA) -- A Silver Spring family is in shock after the Halloween night murder of their son at a youth party in a million dollar mansion near Columbia, Maryland. The alleged killer is now behind bars.

19 year old Aaron Thomas Brice was a good boy according to his father, Anthony.  "He was the hear t of our family and now its been ripped out" his mother Sandra told 9 News Now.

"He volunteered with kids, with seniors and he loved people," says Anthony.

His 14 year old sister Aaliyah was in tears.

"He was my only flesh and blood brother," says Aaliyah. "I can't believe he's gone."

Aaron, who was about to enter Montgomery College, was one of over 100 youths at a Halloween party at 11501 Manorstone Lane in Columbia when an ongoing dispute ended in gunfire.

Police say at least twenty two shots were fired into the crowd early Sunday morning and one of those shots killed Aaron who was standing outside the house on the driveway. Another bullet hit 22 year old Nathaniel Quirk in the back. Quirk was in the basement of the home when the bullet entered a window. The young man is now in a local hospital paralyzed from the waist down according to relatives. 

Howard County police interviewed over a hundred witnesses, and arrested 22 year old Devin O'Brian Dixon and 21 year old Dean Schroyer both of  the same address in Elkridge, Maryland. The men have been charged with murder and accessory to murder respectively. Dixon, who has a prior criminal record, is believed to have fired into the crowd after an ongoing argument at the party.  Police also found three pounds of marihuana in the trailer where both suspects lived.

Police do not believe either of the victims were specifically targeted. Ironically, Dixon was a childhood friend of Nathaniel Quirk and reportedly did not know the boy he played with while both were in middle school was at the party. He visited Quirk's family hours before he was arrested for firing the shot that may keep his friend in a wheelchair for life.  

The 4500 square foot mansion was rented out for the private party and police suspect admission was charged and alcohol sold. They are considering filing charges against those responsible for the party and the homeowners identified in county records as Dennis Edwards and  

Another party at the same home last June also ended violently and police were called to the scene.