April 6th, 2018 by WCBC Radio

On Thursday evening, 04/05/2018, at 7:14 PM, members of the Allegany County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Maryland State Police and the Maryland  Natural Resources Police, responded to a private residence on Benson Drive in Rawlings for a reported shooting. When the first responding officers arrived they found 47 year old Jamie Lee Crossland just inside the doorway of the residence, suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Officers began immediate emergency medical treatment which continued until the arrival of the Cresaptown Volunteer Fire Department ambulance. Despite continued medical treatment, Crossland was pronounced dead at the scene.

Members of the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I) responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and the crime scene was processed by members of the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division. The gun believed used, a 20 gauge shotgun, was recovered from the scene.

Numerous interviews were conducted as part of the investigation, including the victim's brother, 45 year old Keith William Crossland. According to Keith Crossland, he had obtained the shotgun to shoot a squirrel. When his brother attempted to prevent him from shooting from inside the house, the gun discharged, striking Jamie Crossland in the abdomen.

Keith Crossland  has been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless Endangerment. He is currently awaiting an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.

The victim's body will be transported to the Maryland State Medical Examiner's Office in Baltimore for an autopsy.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death is continuing by C3I.