McCaskey teen shot to death in Baltimore remembered for his heart

• By Jack Panyard/LNP | LancasterOnline

Friends and family of 18-year-old Carlos Alberto Carrazana Ricardo lined the halls of Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home in Lancaster on Monday, crying, holding each other and grieving the loss of their loved one.

The McCaskey High School senior, who loved cars, football and helping his family, died a week ago, the victim of a shooting in Baltimore.

A Cuban national, he had been in the United States for only a year.

Carlos was shot during a Facebook Marketplace exchange gone bad, according to police. When he went to look at a car in Baltimore and decided not to buy it, the person who was selling the car shot him.

The son of Yanet Ricardo Vega and Eliden Carrazana, Carlos immigrated from Santiago, Cuba, in 2022. Reynaldo Favier, his uncle, who has lived in America for eight years, said Carlos came to pursue a career as a businessman. He hoped to go to college after high school.

Through a translator at the funeral home, Favier said Carlos had been authorized to work in the United States a month ago and was employed at an Amazon warehouse in the county. He lived in Lancaster with his mother, stepfather and older brother.

Favier and Carlos were close, he said, bonding over their mutual love of cars. He would have Carlos ride along at his job as a Lowe’s delivery man. They used to play football at local parks. Favier said he was a happy young man who did not mess with drugs or alcohol.

The crime

Baltimore city police said Carlos Carrazana Ricardo was on the 2700 block of Harlem Avenue in the northeastern part of the city near Gwynns Falls Park on Nov. 27 when he was shot to death by Marques Harris, of 2430 Hollins Ferry Road, Baltimore County.

Charging documents say Carrazana Ricardo and an unidentified friend traveled to the city to take a look at a 2006 Acura TL sedan Harris was selling on Facebook Marketplace. Harris and an unidentified person met with them, and when Carrazana Ricardo and his friend said they were not interested in purchasing the vehicle, Harris shot at them as they drove away, striking Carrazana Ricardo in the head.

Carrazana Ricardo was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he died Nov. 30. His friend was unharmed.

Police connected the Facebook Marketplace account to Harris, who admitted trying to sell the car, being at the shooting and owning a handgun recovered at his residence.

Court records show police arrested Harris on Saturday, and he had a preliminary hearing Sunday. Police charged him with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault and five firearm-related charges. He is currently in Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center.

The day after the shooting, McCaskey Principal Justin Reese sent an email informing students of Carrazana Ricardo’s death and offering counseling services to students who felt the need to talk.

Favier said the family will remember Carlos for his heart, and will put a large picture of him in the room he lived in. He said the family also wants justice and for the people responsible to be punished.

Carlos’ family has two GoFundMe websites set up to raise money for funeral expenses.