Howard County police are now reporting five people shot in three unrelated shootings in Laurel. Authorities are planning a news briefing later this morning.

Here are some early details from police:

Howard County police are investigating three unrelated, non-fatal shooting incidents that occurred overnight. Five victims are being treated for injuries. Four are serious, one is in critical condition. Police are offering a reward of up to $1,500 for information in any of the cases.

The first incident occurred at 7:45 p.m. April 6 in the 5400 block of Broadwater Lane in Clarksville.  Detectives believe the suspects and victims may have known one another. They are looking into whether drugs may have been involved in the case. The victim, an adult male, and two friends agreed to meet a man on Broadwater Lane. During the meeting, an additional car pulled up and two masked suspects, one male and one female, both armed with guns, exited the car and demanded money from the victim and his friends. They took cash and shot the victim in the leg. He was transported to University Hospital in serious condition.

The second incident occurred at 12:51 a.m. in the 9100 block of Hitching Post Lane in Laurel.  Three male teens were walking along the roadway and were approached by an unknown suspect wearing a mask who fired shots, striking two of the teens.  One teen was struck in the face and is in serious condition, the other was struck in the back and is critical.  Both are at Shock Trauma. The third teen was not injured.

The third incident occurred at 12:53 a.m. in the 100 block of Alma Avenue in Laurel and is unrelated to the shooting in Laurel minutes earlier. Two groups of people were shouting at each other between a motel and a mobile home park. A fight broke out and two people were shot in the legs. Both are in serious condition at Shock Trauma.