August 10 shooting may be related
The Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that occurred August 10 and detectives believe it may be related to another shooting that occurred August 5.
On August 10 at 10:30 p.m., Charles County Sheriff's officers responded to a residence in the 3900 block of Hems Court in Bryans Road for the report of a shooting. Investigation revealed a 23-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, both of Bryans Road, were in a car stopped in the 3400 block of Medway Street in Bryans Road when a man approached them and began talking with the driver. After a short conversation, the suspect brandished a handgun and began shooting at the victims. Several shots were fired that struck the victims and the vehicle. The victims fled in their car to the residence on Hems Court and notified police.
The woman was flown to Prince George's General Hospital and the man was transported by ambulance to Fort Washington Hospital Center. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening. Witnesses described the as a black male wearing a black ball cap, black pants and a black tank top. He is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs between 185 and 195 pounds.
Detectives are not releasing the details of the conversation between the suspect and the victims. The nature of the crime and other investigative information leads them to believe this could be related to the August 5 incident, but they are not releasing further details, citing the on-going investigation.
The August 5 shooting occurred at 2 p.m. behind a vacant building in the 4600 block of India Head Highway. Officers responded there for the report of a shooting and, upon arrival, found a 25-year-old Indian Head man with a gunshot wound to his back. A Maryland State Police helicopter flew the man to Baltimore Shock Trauma, where his injuries were said to be non-life-threatening.
Detectives responded to the scene and their investigation revealed three suspects confronted the victim, shot him and fled on foot. Witnesses identified one of the individuals involved in the incident as Charles McCleland Shorter, 21, of Indian Head. Shorter was located shortly thereafter at a residence in Indian Head and charged with attempted murder. Detectives identified Joseph Timothy Thompson, 23, of no fixed address as another individual involved in the incident. The third suspect has been tentatively identified as a 15-year-old La Plata boy but no charges have been filed.
Thompson has not been located but detectives have obtained a warrant for his arrest for attempted murder for the August 5 shooting. The Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in locating Thompson and are urging them to consider him armed and dangerous. A photo of Thompson can be viewed on the Sheriff's Office's Web site at www.ccso.us. Anyone who sees Thompson should notify the Sheriff's Office immediately at 301-932-2222.
Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information about a crime that leads to an arrest or indictment. Crime Solvers can be reached at 1-866-411-TIPS.