LA PLATA, Md.—The Charles County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide that occurred on Saturday, July 7. At 2:47 a.m., officers responded to the 4800 block of Mason Springs Road in Indian Head for the report of a shots fired at a residence. Upon arrival, officers found a large party and learned there had been several fights at the house; however, no shooting victims were found.
While officers were on the scene, they were notified by Civista hospital that a male had been brought to the emergency room by his friends and was suffering from what appeared to be blunt force trauma. According to the friends, the victim, Jerry Adam Gilchrist, 18, of Cheltenham, had been at the party and was involved in an altercation; he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore will conduct an autopsy and the investigation is continuing.