1 dead, 3 injured in shooting at a Charles County lounge

One man is dead and three people were injured after a shooting at a Charles County, Maryland, cigar and hookah lounge Friday night.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet that the shooting took place before 9 p.m. at the Smoking Room 301 Bar and Lounge on Crain Highway in Waldorf.

Four people with serious injuries from the shooting were transported to a hospital, where one man, Dontrell Lowell Watson, 34, of Upper Marlboro, later died, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said in a release Saturday afternoon.

The sheriff’s office said the shooting happened amid a dispute between two groups of people.


Parts of Crain Highway, between Mattawoman Drive and Gillespie Circle, were shut down in both directions for about an hour as police investigated the scene.

Police are pursing leads and asking for anyone with information about the shooting to call 301-932-2222. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call 1-866-411-TIPS.

Here is a map of where the shooting took place:

This is a developing story. Stay with WTOP for the latest.

Matt Small

Matt joined WTOP News at the start of 2020, after contributing to Washington’s top news outlet as an Associated Press journalist for nearly 18 years.

Luke Garrett

Luke Garrett is a D.C. native dedicated to journalism. He is a reporter and the creator, host and producer of the original WTOP podcast, “DMV Download.” The podcast debuted in 2022. On the show, Garrett takes a weekly look at the biggest stories and ideas in the D.C. region.

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