HANOVER, MD – A man defended himself against a violent robbery attempt outside a Burlington Coat Factory store at Arundel Mills Mall on Saturday afternoon, shooting one of his attackers after suspects tried to take his legally carried handgun.
Anne Arundel County Police responded to the mall around 5:00 p.m. on March 28, 2026, following a report of shots fired. The victim, an adult male, told officers he was leaving the store’s vestibule when several suspects approached and began assaulting him.
During the attack, the victim attempted to draw his handgun. The suspects fought to take the firearm from him, and the gun discharged during the struggle, striking one of the attackers. The suspects then fled the mall with the victim’s handgun and cell phone. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The department’s Real Time Information Center worked with mall security to identify the suspects and their vehicle, a black Nissan Altima. Eastern District patrol officers and the department’s Aviation Unit located the car in Glen Burnie. A pursuit was authorized after the suspects fled north on Interstate 97 into Baltimore County.
The vehicle exited onto Interstate 695 and crashed. All three occupants fled on foot before being tracked by the Aviation Unit and taken into custody with help from Baltimore City and Baltimore County police. One Anne Arundel County officer was injured in a separate crash during the response and was later treated and released.
Two suspects were treated for injuries from the crash. The third was treated for the gunshot wound he sustained during the initial attack. Officers recovered the victim’s handgun in the Burlington Coat Factory parking lot and his cell phone near Route 100 and Oakwood Road in Glen Burnie.
Three men were charged in connection with the incident: Brandon Eric Edwards, Jr., 21, of Severna Park; Daevone D’Andre Johnson, 24, of Glen Burnie; and Elijah Amontay Fisher, 20, also of Glen Burnie. The investigation remains active.
Armed Citizen Takeaway
This incident is a reminder of how quickly a situation can escalate when a firearm is introduced into a violent confrontation. The victim was targeted, assaulted, and his gun became part of the struggle. Retaining control of your firearm during a physical attack is a critical and often overlooked aspect of concealed carry training. Retention techniques and situational awareness in transitional spaces like parking lots and store entrances can make a life-or-death difference.
The right to carry a firearm for personal protection is a fundamental civil right. Situations like this one illustrate why that right matters for ordinary people going about their daily lives.
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