WASHINGTON — Authorities in Prince George’s County say a Laurel man threw a Molotov cocktail inside a Beltsville, Maryland, liquor store over the weekend, injuring two employees, including one who suffered severe burns.
Prince George’s County Fire Department officials said Kevon Robert Edwards, 23, entered the Calverton liquor store on Beltsville Drive at about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 27. After a brief confrontation with two store employees, authorities said Edwards threw the Molotov cocktail directly at one of the employees, whose clothing caught fire.
Edwards was arrested and charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, second-degree arson, and reckless endangerment.
“We’ve unfortunately seen the use of Molotov cocktails but not where one is actually thrown at an individual,” said fire department spokesman Mark Brady. “That is highly unusual, unheard of around here and certainly it’s something we take very seriously. And that’s why you see so many charges against this individual.”
Firefighters put out the fire and the two employees were taken to a burn unit at a hospital. The employee whose clothing caught fire suffered second-and third-degree burns over half his body and is still in the hospital, Brady said.
The other employee suffered first- and third-degree burns over a small portion of his body and was treated and released from the hospital.
Edwards was detained by a police officer on patrol in the area who noticed Edwards fleeing the scene, authorities said.
Brady said the entire incident was captured on store surveillance video.
“It tells a clear story (of) what happened,” he said.
An estimated total of $2,000 worth of damage was done to the store.
Brady said the motive for the attack is still under investigation by the fire department.
WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report from Landover Hills, Maryland.
