An employee at a gun shop is facing charges after opening fire at an unmarked police car amid a surge in gun robberies in the area.
The incident took place on Tuesday in the early morning hours in the town of Rockville, Maryland. Due to the uptick in property crimes targeting gun stores in the area, officers with the Montgomery County Police Department had been making an effort to more proactively patrol near stores that could potentially be targeted, according to WJLA News.
At around 12:30 a.m., an officer in an unmarked car entered the parking lot of Engage Armament, located in the 700 block of East Gude Drive. According to the department, shortly after the officer arrived, he noticed a man running toward the car while firing a gun, hitting the vehicle twice in the process. As he fled the scene, the officer radioed in for backup, reporting that a white male had opened fire on him.
The shooter ultimately realized his error after the officer activated the car's emergency equipment, making it clear that it was a police vehicle. The man then dropped his weapon and put his hands up.

The shooter turned out to be 42-year-old Andrew S. Raymond, a resident of Darnestown and an employee at Engage Armament. He was taken into police custody following the incident and charged with first-degree assault and related handgun offenses. He is currently awaiting his first bond hearing.
As of Tuesday, the Montgomery County Police have not disclosed any information regarding Raymond's confirmed or suspected motive for the attack. Newsweek reached out to the department for comment.
Among the instances of gun theft reportedly plaguing the region was an incident that took place on November 25, the day after Thanksgiving. At around 1 a.m., a team of thieves crashed a stolen car into the front of the Rockville store, Atlantic Weapons, at which point police believe that five or six individuals entered the store and left with stolen guns.
The same store was previously targeted on November 19, with multiple suspects attempting a smash-and-grab style robbery around 4 a.m. During this incident, however, the suspects were not able to enter the building. Surveillance footage from a nearby bakery was obtained by law enforcement to help the investigation, according to WTOP News.
Due to the continued issue of gun theft, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has begun lending assistance to the Montgomery County Police Department in its investigation.
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