Troy Elliott Harrod remains held without bond as a judge prepares to consider whether he is competent to stand trial.
HUNTINGTOWN, Md. — A Maryland man charged with killing his sister inside their Calvert County home is scheduled for an Oct. 23 competency hearing, a proceeding that will determine whether he is mentally able to understand the criminal case against him and assist in his defense.
Troy Elliott Harrod, 43, of Huntingtown, is charged with first-degree and second-degree murder in the death of his sister, 55-year-old Alva Larita Harrod. Authorities said deputies found her suffering from multiple gunshot wounds after responding to the siblings’ home on Harvey Road early Oct. 12. Harrod was taken into custody and is being held without bond.
The competency hearing shifts the immediate focus of the case from the allegations surrounding the shooting to Harrod’s present ability to participate in court proceedings. Under Maryland law, a defendant is considered incompetent to stand trial if the person is unable to understand the nature or purpose of the proceeding or unable to assist in the defense. A finding on competency does not decide whether a defendant committed the charged crimes.
Deputies were sent to the 4400 block of Harvey Road shortly before 5 a.m. after a report of gunshots, according to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said Harrod was standing in the driveway when deputies arrived and told them he had shot someone. Deputies then entered the house and found Alva Harrod wounded. Emergency efforts were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead.
Investigators recovered a rifle and shell casings from inside the residence, the Sheriff’s Office said. Harrod was arrested without incident and taken to the Calvert County Detention Center. Authorities have not announced a final conclusion about what led to the shooting, and the criminal charges against Harrod remain allegations unless proved in court.
According to reports based on police records, Harrod made statements to deputies indicating that he believed people were trying to take his house. Investigators also learned that the victim’s daughter was inside the residence during the shooting. She barricaded herself in a bedroom and called 911 after hearing gunfire and her mother’s screams, according to the report.
The daughter also gave deputies information raising concerns about Harrod’s mental condition at the time, according to a police report cited by FOX 5 DC. Those statements have not been established as a medical diagnosis. The upcoming competency proceeding concerns Harrod’s ability to participate in the court case now, rather than resolving his mental state or criminal responsibility at the time of the shooting.
Maryland law requires a court to address competency when the issue is properly raised. If a judge determines that a defendant is competent, the criminal case can proceed. Competency and criminal responsibility are separate legal questions, meaning the Oct. 23 hearing will not determine guilt or innocence on the murder charges.
The Sheriff’s Office has said its investigation remains ongoing. Harrod remains held without bond while the case moves toward the competency hearing, which is the next publicly reported court milestone.
Author note: Last updated October 14, 2026.