BOWIE, MARYLAND – An armed citizen shot one of four armed teens who allegedly attempted to rob him Tuesday afternoon. Shortly after 5 p.m., Bowie police responded to reports of gunshots and a robbery in the 14900 block of Health Center Drive, near the Bowie Health Center.
Responding officers contacted the victim, who stated that he was approached by four suspects who were armed with handguns. The victim then drew his own handgun and shot one of the suspects in self-defense. The foursome then fled the scene.
Police located a 15-year-old suspect near the scene, and the suspect who was shot, a 17-year-old, turned himself in at a nearby hospital where he sought treatment of his gunshot wound. A short time later, Prince George’s police officers located the other two suspects, 16 and 17, following a crash involving a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Virginia. Two firearms believed to have been used in the attempted robbery were also found at that scene in Glendale, about 30 miles from the original crime scene.
Authorities say that the 15-year-old from Hyattsville was charged as a juvenile, while the 16-year-old from Upper Marlboro and two 17-year-olds from Hyattsville and Bladensburg have been charged as adults due to the seriousness of the crime.
Speaking at a Wednesday news conference, Bowie Police Chief John Nesky said, “These individuals are dangerous people. That’s evident by their actions last night. I believe that this is probably part of a larger trend we are seeing in the area and around the region, especially as it pertains to juvenile crime . . . if you don’t have those support systems, if you don’t have any other kinds of guardrails or systems, you’re going to get these kinds of actions.”
