Police said three people were shot and two others were stabbed near restaurants on Baltimore Avenue.
LAUREL, Md. — Five people were injured late Tuesday after gunfire and stabbings broke out near a busy Laurel shopping center during Cinco de Mayo celebrations, police said.
Laurel police said the violence unfolded in two areas of The Centre at Laurel, along the 13600 block of Baltimore Avenue. Investigators had not announced arrests by Wednesday morning and said it remained unclear whether the shooting and stabbing were connected.
The trouble began shortly after 10 p.m., after a large crowd had gathered near Amigos Mexican Grill, where a Cinco de Mayo event had drawn people inside and outside the restaurant. Police were already in the area working to clear the crowd when shots were fired near the LongHorn Steakhouse parking lot, according to local reports and police statements.
Three people were shot and taken to hospitals. Two were reported in critical condition, while a third had serious injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Video from the scene showed a vehicle near LongHorn Steakhouse with bullet holes and a shattered window as officers marked evidence and searched the parking lot.
At about the same time, police said two people were stabbed at another spot in the same shopping center. One stabbing victim was critically injured, and another was taken to a hospital for evaluation. During the chaotic response, police said an officer was maced. Officials did not immediately release the officer’s condition.
Witnesses told reporters that a fight broke out near the restaurants before someone appeared to pull a handgun and fire several shots. People ran through the parking lot as emergency crews arrived and officers tried to separate the shooting scene from the stabbing scene.
Investigators remained at the shopping center until early Wednesday morning and cleared the scene around 5:30 a.m. Police said they were reviewing video and searching for the shooter and the person responsible for the stabbings. Authorities had not released suspect descriptions or the victims’ names.
The investigation remained active Wednesday, with police asking for witnesses and video from the shopping center. The next step is expected to include more evidence review and possible updates on the victims’ conditions.
Author note: Last updated May 6, 2026.