This story was last updated Monday at 5:30 p.m.
ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Annapolis mass shooting suspect is under arrest and being held without bond, city police announced Monday afternoon. One report said the gunfire was prompted by an argument over parking and a blocked driveway.
Officers identified the accused gunman as 45-year-old Charles Robert Smith of Annapolis. Police claim he shot six people, including three who died, during a Sunday evening graduation party.
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Authorities said Smith lives in the 1000 block of Paddington Place, where the party and the shooting happened.
The Annapolis Police Department also released the names of the three victims who were pronounced dead at the scene.
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Officers identified the deceased as:
Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson said Nicholas Mireles and Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz are father and son. Segovia is not related.
The three unidentified survivors all went to the hospital in stable condition, officers said. Medics took two victims by helicopter and the other by ambulance. Jackson expects all three to survive.
The chief said Smith surrendered when authorities arrived.
Jackson said Smith is charged with:
The Annapolis Police Department is still working to determine a motive for the shooting, which wasn’t random. Officers said there is no threat to the public.
Parking Dispute Alleged
Charging documents obtained by WBAL said the shooting followed a parking dispute. The documents said Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz was hosting the large party.
Smith’s mother called the city to report a vehicle blocking their driveway and Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz went over to discuss the issue. An argument ensued and Smith arrived, then shot Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz and Segovia, the documents said.
Police said Smith went inside his house, got a rifle, fired shots outside the window at partygoers coming outside and killed Nicholas Mireles.
When asked, the Annapolis police chief declined to speculate on whether parking was part of the motive. He said this is still under investigation.
“Annapolis still remains a safe city,” Jackson said during a Monday press conference. “I want to highlight that point. I can’t underscore that enough. This was an isolated incident. It was contained immediately.”
Leaders Oppose Gun Violence
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman noted that this mass shooting happened just before the five-year anniversary of the deadly attack at the Capital Gazette newspaper. Pittman recalled reporters from The Capital asking him and other candidates at the time how they would curb gun violence.
The county executive apologized for not stopping mass shootings in Annapolis.
“I don’t think there’s anything that we as a local jurisdiction could have done to prevent weapons of the kind that were used,” Pittman said. “They were powerful enough to do a huge amount of damage on the front lawn of a home in a quiet neighborhood in a short amount of time, and weapons like this have no place in our neighborhoods.”
The police chief accused Smith of using both a long gun and a semi-automatic handgun during the shooting.
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said America must continue pursuing gun reform.
“Maryland is going to lead the way to try to roll some of this back, be respectful of gun ownership, but honestly, how much firepower do we need in a community?” Buckley said.
Gov. Wes Moore also promised to work harder on community safety.
“This pain is accompanied by purpose,” Moore said. “We will choose to do more than give hearts and thoughts and prayers because that’s simply not enough. We will choose to tackle the issues of violence in our communities head-on, unapologetically and unafraid because this moment demands that we be fearless.”
The full press conference is posted here.
Resources Offered As Investigation Continues
The Annapolis Police Department asked anybody with information to call 410-260-3439 or email Detective Deleonibus at [email protected]. Tipsters can also anonymously contact officers at 410-280-CLUE (410-280-2583).
After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, Congress in a 2013 law defined “mass killings” as three or more killings in one incident.
The Associated Press defines “mass killings” as those where four or more people, excluding the assailant, died in a 24-hour period.
Anybody needing mental health resources can always call Anne Arundel County’s 24/7 warmline at 410-768-5522 or visit aamentalhealth.org.
This map shows the area where authorities said the shooting happened.
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