Crime & Safety

Police Say Aguilar Knew He Was Having Mental Health Issues

Police released more details about Aguilar's handwritten journal Tuesday evening.


Howard County police said Tuesday that the alleged gunman in the Columbia Mall shooting knew he was having mental issues, according to his journal, which was obtained by police.

Police said the handwritten journal offers "no insight" into whether Darion Marcus Aguilar knew the two victims, Tyler Johnson, 25, of Mount Airy, and Brianna Benlolo, 21, of College Park, who were both employees of the Zumiez skate shop at the mall. Police say Aguilar killed himself after shooting Benlolo and Johnson.

Police said in a tweet they need to do additional interviews before they can release the contents of Aguilar's journal but that they believe, "Aguilar knew he was having mental health issues."

Police Tuesday also distributed a flyer to mall shops, reading:

"Police have learned that Aguilar has frequented The Mall in Columbia and was sometimes seen smoking among small groups of people around the exterior of the mall.

"If you had any contact with Aguilar, saw him around the mall, or have any information about him, please contact police immediately."

Police said via their Twitter account that detectives are investigating Aguilar's cell phone, computer and financial records to determine a motive in the shooting.

The Baltimore Sun reported Tuesday that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Aguilar's death a suicide, and that he put the shotgun police said he used in the killings to his mouth and killed himself.

A spokesperson for the medical examiner's office said Benlolo died from shotgun wounds to her neck and chest while Johnson's cause of death was "mutliple gunshot wounds," according to the Sun report.

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