Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Hampstead, MD: Two dead in Hampstead shootings

Woman says her ex-husband broke into house, shot her fiance, himself

By Arthur Hirsch | arthur.hirsch@baltsun.com

Baltimore Sun reporter

6:26 PM EDT, March 16, 2010


A Hampstead man was shot to death in his home Tuesday morning by the ex-husband of his fiance, police said.

Michael Leo Swift III, who was indicted earlier this month on machine gun and other weapons charges, blasted his way into the house in the 1200 block of Allview Drive with a 12-gauge shotgun and shot Zaidan Stephen Asid, State Police spokesman Greg Shipley said. Swift then turned the gun on himself.

Hallie Patricia Swift called from inside the house at about 11 a.m. and told police that her ex-husband had broken in, shot her fiance and shot himself, Shipley said.

State troopers and emergency workers arrived to find the two men dead in the first floor rear family room, Shipley said. The gun was still in Swift's posession.

Hallie Swift was taken to Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster for examination and treatment, Shipley said. She did not appear to have been shot.

Records identify the 51-year-old Asid as the owner of the house. Neighbors say he worked for the National Security Agency at Fort Meade.

Neighbors say Asid, whom they knew as Steve, lived in the house with Swift.

Police secured the property and obtained a search warrant to enter the house.

The two-story structure, painted a pale yellow with green shutters, sits on a large and well-kept lawn not far from the Hampstead town center.

A dark green Saturn, believed to be the ex-husband's car, was parked outside. Its motor was still running when police arrived, Shipley said.

Asid was the father of a nine-year-old boy who died in an accident less than four months ago.

Noah Asid was at a nature camp at Hashawha Environmental Center in Westminster on Dec. 31 when he was struck by a falling hickory tree.

Baltimore Sun staff writer Justin Fenton contributed to this report.

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