Posted on: August 28, 2024, 12:19h.
Last updated on: August 28, 2024, 12:19h.
Three suspects are in custody following a weekend brazen holdup at Maryland’s MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino.
The young bandits got hold of a fire extinguisher and sprayed the gaming floor at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday. They then grabbed gaming chips before trying to escape from the gaming property.
A short time later, three teen-aged males were apprehended. Two are 16 and one is 18, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
All are being charged as adults, DC News Now, a regional news site, reported. Their cases will be heard in adult court. If convicted, they could be incarcerated in adult prison.
None of the three suspects were identified in local news reports.
Other suspects also took part in the robbery. They hadn’t been identified or captured as of early this week.
No one was injured from the ruckus and robbery. It’s unclear what was the value of the chips. Nor is it known if the chips were recovered by police officers or casino security guards.
Visitors Comment
Saturday’s incident infuriated casino visitors who reside in other states.
I think it’s just shocking and it’s shameful where our society is going with kids. [They] think they can do whatever they want and feel no accountability and it seems to be getting worse,” Steve Shafer of Alabama was quoted by DC News Now.
“It’s disappointing and shocking,” Laura Yates of Texas added.
“I can’t believe they were so brave to walk in there and do something like that with no regard for anyone’s safety.”
Following the incident, the PGPD announced it’s offering a $2.5K reward for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the suspects.
Prior Chip Theft
In December, MGM National Harbor’s gaming floor was the scene of a similar theft. Seven suspects made their way into the casino and swiped casino chips from a gaming table.
Two suspects were apprehended. Five others avoided capture at the time of the holdup.
Some of the casino security guards suffered minor injuries in an apparent scuffle with the suspects, according to Washington DC TV station WTTG.
Previous Hotel Robbery
In addition, in 2020 a man was shot twice in the groin during an armed robbery at MGM National Harbor hotel. He had won $60K at a blackjack table.
Bandits broke into the hotel room of Nathaniel Nagbe of Gaithersburg, Md. He was pinned to the floor and was ordered to provide the combination for the safe in the room.
Even with the combination, the robbers couldn’t open the safe.
Nagbe escaped and ran only as far as the hallway. Once there, he was wounded twice in the groin and the lower abdomen.
Alicia McCoy, 25, of Washington, DC, and Barry Reid, 20, of Temple Hills, Md. were both charged with attempted first-degree murder and several related charges, Washington DC TV station WUSA reported. It’s unclear how their cases were adjudicated. It’s unclear if a third suspect was ever charged.
MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino is located in Oxon Hill, Md. It’s located about 12.2 miles from Washington, DC.
