Maryland Man Accused of Killing 3 People, Injuring 3 Others After Dispute Over Parking Spot During Block Party

A Maryland man has been arrested after he allegedly shot and killed three people and injured three others during a disagreement over a parking spot at a block party, according to authorities.

Around 7:50 p.m. on June 11, officers responded to a call in Annapolis regarding a shooting, according to local police.

Once at the scene, officers found six victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Three of the victims were declared dead at the scene and three others were transported to local hospitals, where they are now in stable condition.

The three victims who died were identified as 55-year-old Nicholas Mireles, 27-year-old Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz and 25-year-old Christian Marlon Segovia.

Police detained the suspect, 43-year-old Charles Robert Smith, officials said.

On July 21, officials announced that Smith was indicted by an Ann Arundel County Grand Jury on 42 counts, including murder and hate crime charges, according to The New York Post.

The returned indictment includes three counts each of first-degree murder and race/religious crime resulting in death, authorities said.

The indictment also includes six counts of attempted first- and second-degree murder and first- and second-degree assault for the crimes allegedly committed against six victims who survived.

Smith is also facing nine counts of using a firearm in a violent crime, officials said.

According to authorities, Mireles Ruiz was hosting a party on June 11. The suspect’s mother reportedly called Annapolis’ parking enforcement because someone’s car was blocking her driveway. Mireles Ruiz went over to Smith’s house to talk with the mother, and the two allegedly got into an argument.

Smith arrived home and allegedly confronted Mireles Ruiz about what happened, WRC-TV reported. Smith then went into his home and started shooting through a window, fatally striking Mario, his father, Nicholas Mireles, and Segovia.

The suspect surrendered to police without incident after the incident, and allegedly claimed he opened fire because a gunshot was fired at his house.

Witnesses, on the other hand, told investigators they did not see any of the victims with guns.

Police reportedly located a semi-automatic handgun and long gun in Smith’s possession.

Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson said at a June 12 press conference that his department is not “ruling anything out” in terms of the shooting being a hate crime.

Jackson said, "Ostensibly, our suspect is a white male and the three victims are Latino. But we can’t draw any inferences from that. We have to look at every possible angle."

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Smith was originally charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.

He is being held without bond, officials said. If convicted, Smith could be sentenced to life in prison.