A man in Annapolis allegedly pointed a handgun at a group of 12-year-old girls who were singing Christmas carols at neighborhood doors, was arrested and charged, and the loaded firearm was recovered from his home; the case has prompted charges that include assault, reckless endangerment and allegedly carrying a handgun while under the influence, with the suspect released on bond and scheduled for a preliminary hearing.
The incident unfolded one evening when three young girls were going door-to-door singing Christmas carols in a residential area of Annapolis. Neighbors called police after the girls reported seeing a man point a firearm at them from inside a house. Responding Southern District officers located the home in the 1700 block of Point No Point Drive and launched an investigation.
Investigators say the suspect pointed a 40-caliber Glock handgun at the children from a bay window, prompting the girls to run away and alert authorities. Police later identified the man as Paul Brian Susie and took him into custody without further incident. The firearm was recovered from a safe in the residence, according to the charging information released by law enforcement.
‘… loud and belligerent behavior …’
Authorities charged Susie with both first- and second-degree assault along with reckless endangerment and a count for wearing and carrying a handgun while under the influence. Reports indicate he admitted to being the person involved and also acknowledged having consumed an alcoholic beverage, which factored into the additional charge. Officers say the combination of pointing a loaded weapon at nonthreatening children and his conduct during their encounter supported those charges.
Local coverage notes that the girls ran after seeing the firearm and that charging documents describe how officers found the loaded gun secured in a safe inside the home. The arrest and recovery of the weapon followed standard investigative steps after the complaint was made. The sequence of events as laid out in reports led prosecutors to pursue multiple charges intended to reflect both the direct threat and the alleged impairment.
An officer spelled out the law enforcement view of the encounter in formal documents, writing that the suspect’s actions and demeanour raised strong safety concerns. The charging documents included this exact passage: “Given Susie’s reckless behavior in pointing a loaded firearm at a group of nonthreatening 12-year-olds he could clearly see on his well-lit stoop, his loud and belligerent behavior during my conversation with him, and his admission of consuming an alcoholic beverage, I know through my training, knowledge, and experience Susie was likely under the influence.” That language is part of the official record in the case.
After processing, Susie was released from custody on a $10,000 unsecured bond and is due to appear at a preliminary hearing on Dec. 17. The bond terms mean he did not have to post cash up front but is obligated to return for court as scheduled. Prosecutors will have the chance at that hearing to outline the evidence and ask the court to move forward toward trial if warranted.
The matter drew attention from local media and neighbors who were shaken by the idea of children being threatened while doing something as innocent as singing carols. Investigators continue to work through witness statements, charging documents and physical evidence to build the case. For now the charges stand while the legal process runs toward the next scheduled court date.
