Man sentenced to life without parole for fatally shooting 2 teens near The Mall in Columbia

A man who fatally shot two teens near The Mall in Columbia was sentenced on Friday to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole — plus 70 years.

Emmetson Zeah, 19, of Columbia, was found guilty at a bench trial in Howard County Circuit Court earlier this year of two counts of first-degree murder and related crimes in the killings of Michael Robertson, 16, a sophomore at Wilde Lake High School, and Blake McCray, 15, a freshman at Oakland Mills High School.

Surveillance cameras captured the shooting, which happened before 6 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2025, near a bus stop. At the time, Zeah was wearing an ankle monitor as part of home detention in a separate case. He testified that he acted in self-defense.

Howard County Circuit Judge Stephanie P. Porter noted that Zeah walked to the bus stop during a busy time at the mall, took out a gun, fired over the heads of a woman and little boy and caused the deaths of two people.

“It’s actually startling,” Porter said. “The calm demeanor. He was alone. No one else is influencing his behavior.”

Porter said she tried but could not find any remorse and described Zeah as “an extreme danger to our community.”

Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson Jr. sought two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 70 years.

Meanwhile, Henry Roland Barnes, Zeah’s attorney, asked the judge to show mercy.

Zeah apologized to the families but maintained his innocence.

“I grieve for you all,” he said, “and I pray for you all.”

This is a developing story.