In a late-night incident that has shocked the local community, a shooting occurred inside an Applebee’s Restaurant in California, Maryland, leading to one individual being wounded. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were called to the scene on Miramar Way at approximately 11:11 p.m. on April 2, 2024, following reports of gunfire.
Upon arrival, law enforcement officers encountered a scene of chaos and quickly intervened to provide life-saving measures to the victim. The individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was subsequently transported to a regional trauma center to receive critical medical attention.
The Criminal Investigations Division of the Sheriff’s Office, alongside Crime Lab personnel, took charge of the subsequent investigation. Early findings suggest that an altercation inside the restaurant escalated, resulting in the shooting. The circumstances that led to the dispute and the identity of the shooter remain under active investigation.
Detective Warren Forinash has been named as the lead investigator on the case. The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward. Witnesses and those with knowledge of the events leading up to the shooting can contact Detective Forinash directly at 301-475-4200, ext. 8072, or via email at Warren.Forniash@stmaryscountymd.gov.
For those wishing to provide information anonymously, the Sheriff’s Office encourages contacting Crime Solvers. Available 24/7, tipsters can call 301-475-3333 or text their information to 274637, starting their message with “Tip239” — a case-sensitive code that must be used as described. Following an initial response, informants can continue the conversation securely.
The assurance from Crime Solvers is clear: tipsters are not required to disclose their identity at any point. Moreover, if the information provided leads to an arrest, the informant may qualify for a financial reward, further incentivizing community members to assist in the investigation.
