Authorities cordoned off blocks of Main Street in downtown Laurel early Tuesday as residents tried to vote on Election Day.
Laurel Police Officer Stephen Garthe said shortly before noon that the area is “safe but an active crime scene.” He said it will take a few hours for the sheriff to sort out.
Volunteer emergency crews were in the area in response to an attempted suicide at 595 Main St, the officer told bystanders.
“A guy shot himself,” Garthe said.
A small crowd gathered outside the police tape on Tuesday morning, including the owner of Oliver’s Old Town Tavern, who said he was trying to bring food to his restaurant. Workers at the Olive on Main restaurant let him temporarily borrow their restaurant fridge.
An employee of the Red, Hot and Blue barbecue restaurant was also on the scene, trying to get to work.
The man injured lived in the apartments above Main Street businesses, and was being evicted by sheriffs serving a notice, according to police radio. When the sheriffs arrived, the man told them he was suicidal and closed the door, after which they heard a shot.
A building property manager said she was on site helping to serve the eviction when the shot rang out. She asked to keep the man’s name private. She said he is a well known member of the community who has lived most of his life in Laurel. “This was a cry for help,” she said.
According to police radio, the man shot himself twice in the chest with a 9mm handgun sometime before 10am, and was in transit to a shock and trauma unit in Baltimore by 11:15am.
The building appears to be managed by Patuxent Place Apartments, according to a sign on the exterior. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
Laura Guenin, Public Information Officer for the Laurel Police Department, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shortly before noon, the road reopened to car traffic.