Arundel Mills Shot Fired Prompts Arrest Of Laurel Man: Police

HANOVER, MD — The Anne Arundel County Police Department said it recently arrested a Laurel man accused of negligently firing a gun at Arundel Mills mall last month.

Officers identified the arrestee as 26-year-old Brandon Maurice Carroll.

The negligent firing happened in the food court on Oct. 1, authorities said. Police released this suspect photo on Oct. 3 and asked for help identifying the accused man.

Officers said they identified Carroll as the suspect on Nov. 11 and secured an arrest warrant that day.

Authorities said they found Carroll on Wednesday and arrested him without incident.

Police said they heard about the shot fired in the Arundel Mills food court around 3:30 p.m.on Oct. 1.

Officers said they found and isolated the area where the shot was fired.

The suspect appeared to be adjusting his pants when his concealed gun fired a single shot into the floor, authorities said. The bullet did not hit anybody.

Police said the suspect fled the scene alongside other mall patrons leaving the area.

One person fell during that scramble and hurt an extremity. Medics took that person to an unidentified hospital, officers said.

Authorities said medics took another mall visitor to a hospital around the same time. That person needed treatment for an unrelated medical event, however.

"Today, we saw what happens when more guns are present in our communities," County Executive Steuart Pittman said on Facebook after the shot was fired. "Families enjoying a meal in the food court at Arundel Mills experienced the terror of not knowing whether they would be the latest victims of a mass shooting. People fled, people were hurt, all because a firearm went off in a crowded public space."

Pittman also said recent U.S. Supreme Court action has hampered efforts to register guns. He thinks this makes Anne Arundel County more dangerous for residents and police. The county executive similarly accused politicians of glorifying guns to land votes.

"The result is terror," Pittman said. "I will stand with our law enforcement community and push back against this idea of promoting guns in public places. It’s dangerous and it's stupid."

The police department said it does not have a comment on Pittman's statement.

Patch National Breaking News Editor Megan VerHelst contributed reporting to this story.

Related:

• Arundel Mills Suspect Photo Released, 1 Hurt In Rush After Shot Fired
• Police Investigating Shots Fired At Arundel Mills Mall