LEONARDTOWN, MD — St. Mary’s County authorities responded to an emergency call on October 21, 2024, leading to the discovery of dozens of firearms and large amounts of ammunition at a property in Hollywood, MD. Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene to assist the local fire department in handling a shed fire on the 42000 block of St. Johns Road. The fire, which involved the potential for exploding ammunition, prompted a swift response.
As fire personnel worked to control and extinguish the blaze, they made a startling discovery. Dozens of firearms were found stored inside one of the sheds on the property. Due to the unexpected find, authorities initiated further investigative measures, culminating in the issuance of a search and seizure warrant.
The search, executed by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division in coordination with multiple agencies, revealed not only the firearms but also large quantities of ammunition stored at the location. Assisting in the search were the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Natural Resources Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
While the investigation remains active, no charges have been filed at this time. The authorities have not yet released additional information regarding the owner of the property or whether the firearms were legally obtained and stored.
The incident has raised concerns in the community, especially given the initial risk posed by the presence of ammunition during the fire. However, no injuries were reported, and it appears the situation was contained without significant escalation.
Investigators are continuing to assess the nature of the discovery and the circumstances surrounding the large cache of weapons and ammunition. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has not provided further details on the potential legal consequences pending the outcome of the investigation.
