Frederick, MD: Flowers, candles left to honor Frederick woman shot to death

Police searching for man who had 'romantic relationship’ with woman

by Margarita Raycheva, Staff Writer

Margarita Raycheva/The Gazette Friends, neighbors and relatives set up a memorial with flowers, candles and a balloon in the spot where Tranice Richardson was shot to death on Friday evening. Richardson, 33, lived a couple of hundred feet away, at the Hillcrest Commons complex in Frederick.


A single balloon danced in the wind and a bunch of white and yellow flowers lay around a tree near the Hillcrest Community Center in Frederick where Tranice Richardson, 33, was shot and killed Friday evening.

Frederick police are looking for Melvin William Smith, 27, who they say had a "romantic relationship" with Richardson. Richardson was pronounced dead about 7:25 p.m., when medical crews arrived at Orchard Terrace and Hill Street, according to a statement from Frederick police issued early Saturday.

Grieving relatives, friends and neighbors on Saturday brought flowers, candles and a teddy bear to honor Richardson, who according to neighbors lived a couple of hundred feet from where she was shot, in the Hillcrest Commons apartment complex.

Wearing sunglasses, Richardson’s mother also stood where her daughter died, surrounded by a group of women.

Richardson, who according to neighbors has two children, was shot multiple times.

“Whoever did this must have really meant it,” said one of the women, tears streaming down her face. The woman and Richardson’s mother would not talk about the shooting or identify themselves by name.

Detective Kevin Forrest, who is investigating the case, and police spokesman Lt. Clark Pennington could not be reached Saturday.

According to online court records, Richardson was granted a temporary order of protection against Smith in 2009. The case was dismissed because Richardson failed to appear in court.

Court records regarding child support also indicate that Smith and Richardson have at least one child.

Richardson's body was taken to the office of the State Medical Examiner in Baltimore. An autopsy is pending.

Police are asking anyone who knows Smith's location to call them at 301-600-2102.

mraycheva@gazette.net