'Break-In' Victim Who Fired Rifle Just High on Cocaine: Police

ODENTON, MD — An Odenton man blasted a rifle through his duplex at burglars – whom police later determined didn’t exist, but may have been the result of his cocaine use.

Anne Arundel County Police say Jason Elliott Brown, 30, from the 1300 block of Burlington Drive in Odenton, reported a burglary at his duplex about 12:20 a.m. Saturday.

Brown told officers he was home alone when two men broke into his house. He hid under a bed with a loaded 30-30 rifle, then fired a round from the weapon in fear for his safety. After the gunshot, Brown jumped out of a second-story window and called police for help. He was not hurt during the incident.

The house is a duplex and neighbors believed a 16-year-old boy was home alone at the adjacent residence.

Police forced open the neighbor’s door to make sure no one was accidentally shot. Luckily, no one was home at the neighboring duplex.

The round that was reportedly fired by Brown went through two interior walls and several items before stopping in a third interior wall of his home.

Inside Brown’s home, police reportedly recovered the spent casing, the rifle that was fired, two more rifles, and cocaine residue.

Officers said there was no burglary at the duplex and no intruders.

Police have charged Brown with false report, discharge of a firearm, deadly weapon, possession of cocaine, and reckless endangerment.

»Photo of Jason Elliott Brown, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police