Anne Arundel County police are investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon inside Arundel Mills Mall after a man was assaulted by three individuals. The intended victim discharged his firearm during a struggle with the assailants, striking one in the wrist before the trio fled in a vehicle, leading to a high-speed pursuit and crash in Baltimore County.
HANOVER, MD — A chaotic scene unfolded at the Arundel Mills Mall on Saturday afternoon when an attempted assault led to gunfire and a multi-county police pursuit. Around 5 p.m. on March 28, 2026, Anne Arundel County police were called to the Burlington Coat Factory after reports of a gunshot fired during a physical altercation.
According to police spokesperson Justin Mulcahy, a man was exiting the store when he was approached and assaulted by three individuals. During the violent struggle, the intended victim pulled out a firearm to defend himself. In the ensuing scuffle over the firearm, the firearm discharged, striking one of the assailants in the wrist.
Pursuit and Capture
The three suspects fled the mall in a black Nissan Altima, which was quickly picked up by the department’s Real-Time Information Center on Interstate 97. Officers pursued the vehicle onto the Baltimore Beltway, where it eventually crashed in Baltimore County. Following a brief foot pursuit aided by aerial units, all three suspects were taken into custody.
Two of the assailants were treated for non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash. Additionally, an Anne Arundel County officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following a collision during the high-speed chase.
Ongoing Investigation
While the motive for the initial assault remains under investigation, authorities confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the mall, which remained open to the public. Detectives are currently working to determine if the intended victim and the assailants were known to each other.
Safety Tip: The exit of a large retail store is a classic “transitional space” where your attention is often divided between your purchases, your vehicle, and your surroundings. Predators often use these bottlenecks to launch coordinated attacks because they know your hands may be full. If you are a concealed carry holder, your “draw stroke” must be practiced from a position of disadvantage—such as while dropping bags or being physically shoved.