Dundalk Man Upset by Sandwich Charged with Attempted Murder: Police

DUNDALK, MD — A Dundalk man is charged with attempted murder and other offenses after police said an argument with his wife over a sandwich escalated into gunfire and a lengthy barricade Sunday in his home.

Daniel Brian Blackwell, 55, of the 7100 block of East Baltimore Street, allegedly fired several shots from the basement of his home through the kitchen floor where his wife was standing because he was upset she took a bite out of his grilled cheese sandwich, officials said.

Blackwell's wife was making dinner in the kitchen around 4:45 p.m. when she heard a gunshot and went downstairs to find her husband surrounded by guns and ammunition, according to police. After he came upstairs briefly and retreated, she heard three additional gunshots, which produced projectiles in the kitchen floor where she was standing, officials allege. She and three teenagers who were in the home went outside and alerted officers to the situation.

Members of the K-9, hostage negotiation and tactical teams responded and used pepper balls to subdue Blackwell, who was allegedly wearing a holster of ammunition around his waist when he stepped out on the porch at the end of a lengthy barricade.

After a three-hour standoff, authorities said they took Blackwell into custody and transported him to a local hospital for an emergency evaluation.

Inside the home, officials said they found 15 guns — four loaded, including one long gun with a chambered round just inside the front door.

Police said Blackwell was not allowed to own guns because of prior assault convictions.

Blackwell is charged with 11 offenses related to Sunday's incident, according to court records:

• Attempted first-degree murder
• Attempted second-degree murder
• First-degree assault
• Second-degree assault
• Six firearms and ammunition violations
• Reckless endangerment

He was being held without bail. A preliminary hearing in the case was set for Feb. 2.

Related: Sandwich Sparked Barricade Situation in Dundalk

Booking photo of Daniel Brian Blackwell from the Baltimore County Police Department.