Cape St. Claire Lockdown: No Charges Filed After Man Found With BB Gun

CAPE ST. CLAIRE, MD — Police said they found the armed man who prompted Monday's three-hour lockdown at two Cape St. Claire schools. Officers on Tuesday asserted that he had a pellet gun, not an actual firearm.

Concern swirled when the windshield of a police car shattered during the lockdown, but officers think this resulted from an unrelated mechanical issue with the SUV. Authorities disclosed that they did not make any arrests or press any charges after finding that the unidentified 18-year-old broke no laws and posed no threat.

"We want to thank the community and our school partners for their patience and support while sorting through this chaotic scene," the Anne Arundel County Police Department commented in a press release. "We also want to thank the outside agencies that responded and assisted with searches."

Officials first issued a shelter-in-place warning Monday at 10:04 a.m. after a walker reported the armed teenager in the woods behind the schools. County Executive Steuart Pittman tweeted at 10:39 a.m. that the facilities, Cape St. Claire Elementary School and Broadneck High School, entered lockdowns while police investigated.

The rear windshield of the responding cruiser shattered while an officer was in the parked car, authorities added. Detectives initially ruled this a definitive gunshot, but they are now investigating it as a coincidental mishap.

Police spokesperson Jacklyn Davis mentioned that the officer heard a pop before the glass broke. She clarified that investigators had not found a projectile by 12 p.m. Monday, however. Davis detailed that the officer was near Cape St. Claire Plaza, which is less than a quarter of a mile as a bird flies from the original scene.

An incident report explained that the caller spotted the teenager, first described as a 15- to 17-year old male carrying what she called a revolver with a wooden handle, around 9 a.m. near Hilltop Drive and Blue Ridge Drive. Davis informed that the woman asked the male what he was doing, and he replied "Oh, I'm just shooting small critters."

Authorities could not yet confirm at a Monday press conference whether the gun was a firearm, a pellet gun or a toy. They have since concluded that it was a BB gun.

Detectives indicated that they saturated the area, developed a person of interest Monday afternoon and interviewed him that evening.

Authorities lifted their shelter-in-place order Monday at 1:32 p.m., writing that there was no threat.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools at 2:38 p.m. announced that its facilities had resumed normal operations, would dismiss safely and would continue evening activities.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department specified that the Maryland State Police and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police assisted its response.

County police still asked anybody with information to call (410) 222-6145. Tipsters can stay anonymous by dialing (410) 222-4700

To watch the full press conference, click here.

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