Armed robbery victim takes matters into his own hands, shooting attacker in Maryland
BOWIE, Md. (7News) — A victim of an armed robbery in Bowie Tuesday took matters into his own hands, shooting one of the assailants during the attack, police officials said.
At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Bowie Police Chief John Nesky said property was stolen from the victim, but the attack also appeared to be a carjacking.
The alleged robber who was shot is 17 years old, and his three counterparts are between 15 and 17, Bowie Police said in a statement Wednesday.
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According to Nesky, a person was approached by four armed males while in the 14900 block of Health Center Drive in Bowie Tuesday around 5 p.m.
The four, armed suspects demanded property from the person, which was taken. The victim, described as a 38-year-old man, was then told to hand over his car keys. It was after that moment that the victim produced a handgun and shot one of the robbers. After the subject was shot, the suspects fled on foot.
Police are calling the reaction self-defense. They said the victim's handgun was registered in another state.
“During the course of this incident, the victim was able to produce a handgun and fired in what we believe to be self-defense, striking one of the robbery suspects,” police said.
Shortly later as police were canvassing the area, two of the suspects were discovered by police at the health center, Nesky said. The 15 year old was found on the grounds of the health center, and the 17 year old who had been shot was a walk-in at the health center. He was later taken by helicopter to a hospital for treatment.
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Detectives were also able to identify the suspects’ vehicle, which happened to be reported stolen from Virginia. Prior to the armed robbery, the vehicle, described only as white, was parked at the health center, Nesky said.
Prince George’s County Police located the car at 9 p.m. Tuesday and apprehended the remaining two suspects who were caught after a car pursuit. They had firearms in their possession, police said.
Two of the teens involved in the alleged armed robbery are 17 years old, from Bladensburg and Hyattsville; one teen is 16 from Upper Marlboro, and the fourth teen is 15 from, also from Hyattsville.
7News is not identifying the suspects by name because they are minors. However, the 17- and 16-year-old teens will be charged as adults, police said.
Nesky said the three older teens were charged as adults because of the seriousness of the crime. He said the teens were considered dangerous.
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"It's the severity of the crime," Nesky said. "It involved weapons."
Police are investigating the incident to see if it is related to similar incidents in the region.
He also said communications between other jurisdictions has been "vibrant and constant."
