Repeat Offender Arrested for Attempted Murder in Hagerstown Stabbing Incident

HAGERSTOWN, MD News (11/6/2023) – On November 5, 2023, officers from Hagerstown Police Department responded to a call about a stabbing in an apartment building on the unit block of N. Mulberry St. The incident has led to the arrest of a repeat offender, Brandon Lamont Howard, on charges of attempted murder, assault, and reckless endangerment.

Around 6:20 pm, officers arrived at the scene to discover a 34-year-old female victim with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to Meritus Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, but is expected to recover.

The suspect, Brandon Lamont Howard, is alleged to have left the apartment and was seen damaging a vehicle on N. Mulberry St. When the owner of the vehicle confronted him, a physical altercation allegedly ensued. The police swiftly arrested Howard, who also sustained injuries during this altercation and was subsequently transported to Meritus Medical Center.

Authorities have confirmed that the victim and Howard were known to each other, but the exact motive behind the stabbing remains under investigation.

Howard, a 41-year-old resident of Hagerstown, now faces a series of charges related to the incident, including:

• 2nd Degree Attempted Murder
• 1st & 2nd Degree Assault
• Reckless Endangerment

This is not Howard’s first encounter with the law. He had already been facing charges from a previous incident in October 2022, including first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment.

Additionally, Howard was on probation for a prior offense dating back to March 25, 2021, for the possession of a controlled substance that was not marijuana.

Furthermore, Howard has a history of criminal convictions. In 2005, he was convicted of second-degree assault, which led to a sentence of two years of probation, with a suspended jail term.

In 2004, he faced charges for a separate second-degree assault, failing to obey reasonable and lawful commands, and received a subsequent 60-day jail term, which was partially suspended.

Howard’s extensive criminal history raises questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in dealing with repeat violent offenders, resulting in repeat offenders ending up back on the streets in a short amount of time, only to commit further violent crimes.

The Hagerstown Police Department is continuing its investigation into the recent stabbing incident, and Howard will soon face the consequences of his actions in a court of law.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.