Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Police have named a suspect and announced a reward in the killing of 17-year-old Jada Sellers, a Milford Mill Academy student who died last week from injuries she suffered in a shooting.
Investigators say 18-year-old Christian Hursey is wanted in connection with the shooting, which happened in the early hours of July 31 in the 700 block of Lyndhurst Street in Southwest Baltimore, near Edmondson Village. Police describe Hursey as armed and dangerous and say his current location is unknown.
Sellers’ cousin, Herbert Brown III, told CBS News Baltimore the family is relieved that a name has finally been attached to the case, but that the news carries an added layer of pain — Hursey was not a stranger to them.
A Painful Connection
According to Brown, Hursey and Sellers had previously dated, and he was a regular presence in the family’s life.
“Our burden is such that not only did we know him, we sat at the table eating meals with this family, we know of his family,” Brown said, describing how Sellers’ parents had welcomed Hursey into their home and treated him like one of their own.
Despite the emotional weight of that history, Brown said the family is drawing strength from their faith and their community as they wait for an arrest.
“So many people, especially Jada’s friends, they are online sharing information. They are connecting the dots. They’re like little detectives and they’re very motivated,” Brown said. He added that an arrest, when it comes, “is just another step in the journey” — not a resolution, but progress toward justice.
Reward Offered for Information
Metro Crime Stoppers is offering an $11,500 reward for information leading to Hursey’s arrest. Anyone with tips is asked to call 1-866-7LOCKUP.
What Happened to Jada Sellers
Sellers was shot just after midnight on July 31 near Edmondson Village. She spent 12 days in the hospital before dying at the University of Maryland Medical Center, surrounded by family.
Brown remembered her as someone who left a lasting impression despite her small stature, calling her a dedicated student who also had a passion for dance and cheerleading.
Sellers’ classmates from Milford Mill Academy Athletics honored her on Instagram, sharing a photo of her with the caption, “Fly High, Jada.”