2 Teens Arrested After Safeway Guard Shot Outside Annapolis Store

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Two teenagers have been charged with attempted murder after gunshots were fired outside an Annapolis Safeway store and a security guard was injured in the exchange. Annapolis Police say the man suffered a graze wound to his chest and was taken to an area hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The shooting happened about 9 a.m. Tuesday outside the grocery store in the 1700 block of Forest Drive. Officers say it appears two groups exchanged gunfire. The victim, who was also outside, was grazed by a bullet. It is unknown if the victim was an intended target.

Nelson Poston, 15, of Annapolis and Kareem Davis, 17, of Washington, D.C., were taken into custody Wednesday at homes in Annapolis, police say. Both were charged as adults with attempted first-degree murder and other related charges. Davis is being held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center without bond and Poston is awaiting his initial hearing before the District Court Commissioner.

“We work hard every day to keep people safe in our city,” said Annapolis Police Chief Scott Baker. “When a 15-year-old is the alleged shooter, it shows that we, meaning all of us, have more work to do. With that being said, we will work tirelessly to put people in jail who commit these senseless acts.”

Detectives believe that Poston and Davis were together outside the store when they encountered another group and Poston shot at the with a handgun. It is not clear if Davis or the other group had weapons, police say.

As Poston and Davis fled the area they ran past the security guard, Poston turned in the guard’s direction and fired at him, grazing his chest.

Several search warrants were executed at homes in Annapolis and one handgun was recovered.

City Councilman Ross Arnett, who is acting mayor while Mayor Gavin Buckley is on vacation this week, said in 2017 the city recorded the second-lowest overall crime numbers since 1975. There has been a 33 percent drop in shootings so far in 2018 compared with a year ago, but leaders must be vigilant, he said.

“Despite a steady decrease in crime in our city over the years, we must take every violent crime seriously and ensure that we are doing our best to bring justice to the victims and communities affected by these shootings," Arnett said in a statement. "These arrests will undoubtedly lead to additional actions by our police that can help stop the violence in our communities."

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact Detective Chuck Bealefeld at 443-986-5561.

You can also call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP and submit an anonymous tip. If your tip leads to an arrest or indictment you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Image via Annapolis Police