Charles County Sheriff’s Office detectives launched an investigation into a fatal shooting that left one man dead and another hospitalized early Wednesday in the parking lot of a convenience store on Smallwood Drive.
The incident unfolded around 2:15 a.m. on October 29, 2025, when deputies responded to reports of gunfire at the Westlake Dash-In located at 2007 Smallwood Drive West. Two adult males suffered gunshot wounds near the gas pumps; one was declared dead at the scene, and the other was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where his condition remained undisclosed as of midday. Authorities confirmed neither victim worked at the store.
Preliminary findings point to a targeted attack on a group gathered in the area, though no specific motive has surfaced and no suspects have been apprehended. The scene remained secured into the morning, with evidence technicians processing shell casings and witness statements under standard protocols for such cases.
Charles County investigators typically prioritize canvassing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and vehicles, a process that can yield leads within hours if cameras capture clear angles. In this instance, detectives urged the public to review any personal recordings from the vicinity. The sheriff’s office emphasized that the event appeared isolated, with no immediate threat to broader patrons or staff at the 24-hour outlet.
Contact Detective Johnson at 301-609-6453 for direct tips, or reach Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS for anonymous submissions eligible for cash rewards. These lines operate around the clock, aligning with Maryland’s framework for community-sourced intelligence in violent crimes.
This marks the latest gun-related episode at the Westlake Dash-In, a fixture along the bustling Smallwood Drive corridor that connects Waldorf’s commercial hubs to residential neighborhoods. The site previously drew police response for shots fired on August 3, 2025, though no injuries resulted then.
Waldorf, the largest community in Charles County with a population exceeding 80,000, grapples with violent crime rates that hover above state averages. Data from recent analyses show a 1 in 237 chance of becoming a violent crime victim locally, translating to about 3.5 incidents per 1,000 residents annually. For the county as a whole, projections estimate violent offenses will impose costs nearing $58 million in 2025, factoring in medical responses, lost productivity and law enforcement hours.
These figures stem from the Maryland Statistical Analysis Center, which compiles uniform crime reports from agencies like the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. The center’s methodology involves cross-verifying incident logs against hospital admissions and 911 dispatches, ensuring reliability for trends. In Charles County, homicides remain rare — averaging fewer than 10 per year — but shootings tied to interpersonal conflicts account for a growing share, often linked to known associations rather than random acts.
As the probe advances, updates will come through the sheriff’s public portal, where residents can track case numbers and submit digital evidence. For now, the focus remains on piecing together timelines from the predawn hours, when fog along Smallwood Drive might have obscured visibility for bystanders.
The sheriff’s office reiterated its commitment to swift resolution, drawing on a 2024 clearance rate of 65 percent for violent crimes through persistent canvassing.