Police rule homicide-suicide in shootings of wife, husband near North East

ELKTON — Investigators have concluded that a homicide-suicide occurred when a man shot and killed himself outside his home near North East in February — ending a police standoff that started several hours earlier after his wife purportedly had committed suicide in that same dwelling, according to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office.

CCSO officials reported Thursday that the man who publicly committed suicide amid the standoff — Christopher Michael Ling, 36 — had fatally shot his wife, Brittany Morgan Ling, 34, several hours earlier inside that dwelling.

“Both Christopher and Brittany were taken to the OCME (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner) for the purpose of an autopsy. After an extensive investigation between officials with the Medical Examiners Office and detectives with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, the medical examiner ruled Brittany Ling’s death a homicide and Christopher Ling’s death a suicide,” Lt. Michael Zack, a CCSO spokesman, told the Cecil Whig on Thursday afternoon.

Police reported four months ago that Christopher Ling and Brittany Ling were the only people inside their residence in the unit block of Tarkka Lane off Bethel Church Road on the night of Feb. 22 when she, according to her husband’s account, took her own life by shooting herself. Christopher Ling also told investigators that he and his wife had been engaged in an argument shortly before she purportedly committed suicide, according to Zack.

CCSO deputies and investigators rushed to that Tarkka Lane residence, along with paramedics and other first responders, at 10:19 p.m. on Feb. 22 after receiving a dispatch regarding a shooting, police reported.

“Investigators found Mrs. Ling’s body in a kitchen-pantry area,” Zack said.

The on-scene investigation conducted by CCSO detectives and Maryland State Police crime-scene technicians inside that Tarkka Lane residence lasted more than six hours, police reported. Investigators departed at approximately 5 a.m. on Feb. 23, leaving Christopher Ling by himself at the home, police said. Investigators returned to that residence about one hour later, however, out of concern for Christopher Ling and for anyone in the vicinity, police added.

“Cecil County Emergency Services received a call from Christopher requesting that investigators return to his location. When this call was received, detectives contact Christopher via cell phone and hear what they believe to be a round being charged from a long gun. Deputies arrived on scene and sought cover, as they established a verbal dialogue with Christopher, who indicated that he wished to take his own life,” Zack outlined at the time.

Christopher Ling remained outside the residence during the standoff, which started at about 6 a.m. Feb. 23 and lasted about three hours. Numerous law enforcement officers were at the scene, including CCSO’s Special Response Team (SRT), which is a tactical squad, and crisis negotiators. CCSO deputies flew a camera-equipped drone over the scene to monitor Christopher Ling.

CCSO deputies also were assisted by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, with some members of that agency operating at least two armored vehicles, which allowed SRT members to “navigate safely” to Christopher Ling, who remained armed throughout the incident.

“Upon approach, Christopher discharged one round from the long weapon, taking his own life,” Zack said.

The police standoff forced first responders to block a section of Bethel Church Road on both sides of the neighborhood where it was occurring. It also resulted in law enforcement officials reportedly issuing a shelter-in-place directive to residents in that neighborhood and to people who live in the nearby surrounding area.

Although CCSO has closed its case after concluding that, contrary to what initially had been reported, Brittany Ling did not take her own life and that, instead, Christopher Ling fatally shot her before turning the gun on himself, anyone who possesses additional information is asked to call CCSO Det. Carson White at 410-392-2171 or email him at carson.white@cecilsheriffmd.gov.

“Even though the homicide-suicide case has been closed, we still gather information in case questions come up down the road,” Zack explained.