2016-04-12

Charles County, Maryland, police averted a potentially dangerous situation when they arrested a man in Waldorf, Maryland, who was carrying a loaded AR-15 near a baby shower.

In a press release, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said one of their officers was flagged down in the 2000 block of Nantucket Drive shortly after 4 p.m. on April 9. A person told the officer they saw a man carrying a long gun at a nearby recreation center.

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The release said the officer, Cpl. P. McCue, went to the center and spotted a man walking in the parking lot holding a rifle. When the man, later identified Rodrigueze Lavon Nowlin Jr, 21, of North Carolina, saw the officer, he ducked down behind a car before surrendering to McCue.

Officers located a loaded AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with 27 rounds in it. A check revealed the gun was reported stolen in North Carolina.

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Investigators said Nowlin was attending a baby shower at the center with 13 other people when he became involved in an argument with another man, who assaulted Nowlin during the confrontation. They said Nowlin left the party, went to his car and retrieved the weapon.

Guests inside the center saw him returning with the gun and locked the doors to stop him from entering the building. The man who allegedly assaulted Nowlin fled but was later stopped by police and in possession of brass knuckles.

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Nowlin is charged with multiple counts of first-degree assault, second degree-assault and reckless endangerment. It is not known where he is being held or if he has a lawyer.

Photo Credit: Charles County Sheriff's Office

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