Criminal charges filed against shooter in Maryland pool fight

An argument that began between two men at a Maryland motel swimming pool and a group of men walking by ended in gunfire. According to the police investigation, the argument began around 2:10 a.m. on Saturday June 29 and escalated when the two men in the pool confronted the group and began fighting with them. The police claim that, during the fighting, one of the two men from the pool pulled out a gun and shot two of the men in the group. The alleged shooter now faces criminal charges.

One of the shooting victims was not hurt as the bullet only passed through his clothes, but the other needed to be taken to a local medical center where he was treated for injuries determined to be non-life-threatening. Police searched the area for the two men from the motel swimming pool and found one of them nearby. The 21-year-old man who allegedly fired the shots was discovered by the police hiding in the water below a boat dock.

Both of the men from the pool were taken into custody after being found. The charges filed against the alleged shooter include first-degree attempted murder. The other man’s charges include second-degree assault.

The charges against the two men carry the potential of serious penalties, and their defense will be guided by the facts uncovered during a careful examination of witness statements and evidence collected and reported by the police. Criminal charges can have long-term consequences for those convicted, and it will prove to be critical that a thorough and competent defense is conducted. All options need to be fully explored in order to back up a defendant’s version of what happened, and a possible determination of self-defense in a case such as this Maryland shooting may carry significant weight during a trial.

Source: abc2news.com, “Two shot during Ocean City pool fight,” June 29, 2013