Late Tuesday night a Cinco de Mayo gathering at a Laurel, Maryland shopping center ended in chaos when separate violent episodes unfolded in the same parking lot: gunfire wounded three people near Longhorn Steakhouse and, while that was unfolding, two others were stabbed near Amigos Mexican Grill. Video and social posts captured parts of the disturbances, and Laurel police have released images and a request for the public to help identify a suspect. All five victims were taken to hospital and reported in stable condition. Authorities say the incidents appear to be unrelated but are asking anyone with footage to come forward.
A large crowd had gathered at Amigos Mexican Grill for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, filling indoor and outdoor spaces across the Centre at Laurel shopping center. The crowd began to disperse late in the evening, and according to police the trouble started just after 10 p.m. What began as arguments and scuffles escalated quickly when at least one person fired shots in front of Longhorn Steakhouse.
A clip shared online shows several men arguing and punching each other in front of the restaurant, then a sudden burst of gunfire that sent people running for cover. Witnesses described the panic as people scrambled to get away from the scene. The three people struck by gunfire were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The WRC video report shows a parked car with multiple bullet holes and a shattered window near the area where the shooting happened, underscoring how rapidly the situation turned violent. That footage circulated on social media soon after the shots were fired and helped police understand the movement of people and vehicles at the scene. The visible damage added to the urgency of the investigation.
While officers were responding to the shooting, a separate stabbing occurred closer to Amigos Mexican Grill, injuring two more people. Authorities believe the stabbing and the shooting are not connected and instead were two incidents that happened near each other in a short timeframe. Fortunately, police report all five victims are currently stable and expected to survive their injuries.
Investigators are piecing together the timeline and reviewing video from bystanders and security cameras to identify those involved. Laurel police have circulated images of a person of interest and have formally asked residents to help in identifying the individual. The department posted that they are asking “all community members to watch and share the video linked below to help ensure the individual is identified as quickly as possible. If you recognize the person in the footage or have any information that may aid investigators, please contact the Laurel Police Department. Your cooperation is vital to the progress of this investigation and the safety of our community.”
Local reactions captured the frustration and disbelief people felt after the violence. One person who decided not to attend the event said, “We attempted to come. My daughter and everybody wanted to come up here, but we knew this was an unusual amount of people … since last year. It was just way more people this year.” Another observer summed up the mood bluntly as “horrible” and pointed out people “can’t come enjoy themselves without that happening. I mean, that’s ridiculous.” ‘Ridiculous.’
Police have not announced any arrests and continue to ask anyone who recorded video of either incident to upload it to the Laurel Police Department’s evidence portal using the provided QR code. Investigators hope the public-submitted footage will give clear leads and help identify suspects, witnesses, and the sequence of events. For now, community members are left sifting through footage and waiting for answers as the probe continues.
