WASHINGTON — A search is underway for a suspect after a security guard was shot early Tuesday morning on the campus of the University of Maryland, campus police said.
A guard was shot shortly after 1 a.m. near the University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center, in the area of Adelphi Road and University Boulevard. The University College Inn is in Hyattsville and is part of the university’s campus.
The victim was taken to the hospital, and is in critical condition.
Campus police believe two people were involved in what they say was an armed robbery. One has been arrested in a wooded area across from the conference center; the search for a second person is underway.
On Tuesday afternoon, police released a photo of the second suspect.
University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell said later Tuesday morning that the two suspects came in the back of the conference center and were confronted by two guards, both of whom were unarmed.
Mitchell said that the two men made off with four portable safes. The university police called the Prince George’s County K9 police units, who searched the area, finding three of the safes and a gun in the bushes across the street; one suspect was found in the nearby woods.
“It wasn’t a random act; it was targeted; it was planned,” Mitchell said. Asked how the suspects knew to look for safes in the back of the conference center, Mitchell replied that that was “a good question,” and that they were continuing to investigate. The safes haven’t been opened yet.
Mitchell added that the university has 400 video cameras that are monitored 24/7, and that there’s “a good chance that we have suspect No. 2 on video.” If the cameras produce a good image of the second suspect, they’ll release it as soon as possible, he said. The second suspect had a full-face mask on, however, Mitchell said.
Mitchell said that the second suspect should be considered armed and dangerous, but the all-clear has been given for the campus.
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.
