Barricade Suspect In Critical Condition After Shooting Himself: Police

GLEN BURNIE, MD — An armed man who shot himself in the head after a five-hour standoff with authorities in a Glen Burnie apartment is in critical but stable condition Wednesday, according to Anne Arundel County Police. Mario Alexander Taylor, 38, from Glen Burnie, was alert and conscious when he was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Medical Center Tuesday evening, according to police spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure.

The barricade situation in the 300 block of Old Stage Road began about 1:15 p.m. Tuesday when officers responded to a domestic assault call. A woman told police that she had been assaulted by Taylor inside her apartment.

Officers attempted to talk with Taylor, but he refused to answer the door and police could see through a window that he was armed with a rifle. As officers took cover, Taylor began barricading the apartment's front door and refused all commands to come outside, officials said.

The police department's Quick Response Team and trained negotiators responded to the scene. During the standoff, Taylor reportedly made several threats toward officers and made several suicidal statements, police said.

After hours of negotiations, at 6:18 pm, officers heard a single gunshot come from inside the apartment at 6:18 p.m.; three minutes later, the quick response team entered the apartment and found Taylor suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

A .22 caliber rifle was found in the apartment, which police believe is the weapon that Taylor used to shoot himself.

Old Stage was closed to traffic between Quarterfield Road and William Street during the standoff, which forced school buses to use alternate routes to get students home Tuesday afternoon.