Shooting at MGM National Harbor Hotel near D.C. leaves one person dead.
A fatal shooting took place on Wednesday at the MGM National Harbor’s food court, located in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. Local law enforcement reported that the incident occurred shortly before noon, and the victim, a male believed to be in his twenties, was shot while placing an order for food.
According to Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader, authorities have classified this shooting as a “targeted” incident. The chief emphasized that the assailant did not randomly select the victim but appeared to have specifically sought him out. Surveillance footage revealed that the suspect had been in the casino’s parking lot for a brief period before entering the food court and opening fire. Notably, no verbal exchange occurred between the gunman and the victim prior to the shooting.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the suspect remains at large and is thought to have fled the scene in a vehicle. Law enforcement did not provide any descriptions of the alleged shooter or his vehicle, and detectives continue to work diligently to ascertain the motive behind the attack.
In response to the incident, nearby schools were placed on lockdown until it was confirmed that the suspect was not on foot in the vicinity. Chief Nader assured the public that there was no active threat to the community, stating, “For us, as a police department, there is no need for us to close anything else.”
The food court at the MGM National Harbor has been temporarily closed while investigators process the crime scene, although the remainder of the casino and hotel remains operational. Chief Nader remarked on the extent of the investigation, emphasizing that the crime scene was limited to the food court area.
Initially, police reported that a second individual had been grazed by a bullet during the shootout; however, Chief Nader later confirmed that no other injuries occurred. The incident marks a regrettable escalation of violence in a public space, prompting heightened concerns regarding safety in bustling commercial areas, particularly those frequented by tourists and locals alike.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to the shooting to contact law enforcement as investigations continue. Media News Source will provide further updates as more details emerge from this developing situation.
