Annapolis mass shooting that left three dead began with argument over a parked car
Six people were shot, three of which are deceased, after gunfire erupted in a private residence on Sunday
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The horror mass shooting that left three men dead and three others injured at a home in Annapolis, Maryland, began with an argument over a parked car, it has been revealed.
Police were called to reports of a shooting at around 8pm local time on Sunday at the 1000 block of Paddington Place, Annapolis Police said.
Officers arrived on the scene to find six victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Three of the victims – Mario Mireles Ruiz, 27, Christian Segovia, 25, and Nicholas Mireles, 55 – were pronounced dead at the scene.
The three other victims were taken to Shock Trauma Units and were expected to survive.
A suspect – Charles Robert Smith, 43 – surrendered to police on the scene and has since been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and assault.
Now, new details have emerged about the mass shooting, revealing what exactly turned a birthday party into a deadly attack.
Court documents allege that the incident unfolded when Mr Smith’s mother Shirley Smith was unhappy with a car parked blocking her driveway.
Ms Smith called a local parking enforcement employee to complain about the vehicle, prompting Ruiz to go to speak to Ms Smith.
Mr Smith and Ruiz then got into a verbal argument that then “became physical”, the charging documents state.
At that point, Mr Smith then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Ruiz multiple times.
Mr Smith then allegedly shot and killed Ruiz’s friend Segovia.
According to the court documents, Mr Smith then went back inside the house and retrieved a rifle, which he used to fire out of the window at other people who had rushed to render aid to the two victims.
The gunfire struck Mireles, killing him.
All three victims’ bodies were found outside while police seized a semiautomatic handgun and a rifle at the scene.
Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson said in a press conference on Sunday that the shooting was “not random”.
“This was an interpersonal dispute so I want to assure the community there is no public safety threat,” Mr Jackson said.
Mr Jackson said the shooting was “unusual” for the area of Annapolis where it occurred.
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley expressed sadness and frustration at the shooting during the press conference.
“Tonight was an example of, yet again, senseless violence,” Mr Buckley said.
He added: “People trying to resolve issues with guns – it is the most ridiculous thing we can do as a society. We have to do things to stop this.”
Mr Smith is being held without bond while investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the shooting was a hate crime.
Last week, seven people were shot and two died after a high school graduation ceremony in Virginia after an individual opened gunfire in a crowd of people. Police in Virginia said they believed the suspected shooter knew one of the victims and had a dispute.
Last month, five people including a nine-year-old child were killed in Texas after neighbours got into a verbal argument over a noise complaint.
So far in the United States, there have been 290 mass shootings this year, according to Gun Violence Archive.
Annapolis police are asking anyone with information to submit it via their direct tip line, 410-280-2583, or via Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-2587.