MAN AND TEEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT ON MOTORIST WITH TOY GUN IN CARROLL CO.

(Westminster, MD) - Troopers from the Westminster Barrack arrested a local man and a juvenile this afternoon for pointing a very realistic, but toy gun at a motorist while driving on Route 97 in Westminster.

Shortly after 2:00 p.m. today, a female caller contacted the Westminster Barrack to report that she was behind an older model blue Buick on Route 97 near Westminster High School when a passenger in the vehicle rolled their window down, leaned out of the vehicle and pointed a large rifle in her direction. The caller told State Police dispatchers that she backed away from the Buick and noticed the passenger again hang from the same window while the car was moving and point the large rifle at her vehicle again. The female caller was able to keep her distance from the Buick and spoke with state police dispatchers to direct responding troopers to her location.

State troopers, including a new trooper that was on his last ride-a-long with Westminster Barrack Commander, Lt. Jim DeWees before being cut loose on his own, stopped the suspect vehicle and arrested the two occupants. During a subsequent search of the suspect vehicle, troopers found an Airsoft gun that closely resembled an assault rifle. Most ‘toy’ firearms are painted orange near the end of the gun barrel to indicate they are toys. The orange band on this gun had been painted black, apparently to make it look more like a real firearm.

Troopers charged Todd M. Gori, 23, of the 400 block of Ross Drive, Sykesville with second degree assault and reckless endangerment. Gori was driving the suspect vehicle during the assault. He was released to the Carroll County Central Booking Unit and is awaiting an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.

The 17-year-old is being charged as a juvenile with the same offenses. He was released to the Department of Juvenile Services for placement. The juvenile is believed to be the person holding the weapon and pointing it at the motorist.

Anyone who may have witnessed a similar incident involving a blue Buick, or who witnessed this incident, is asked to contact Trooper Mark Lyons of the Westminster Barrack at 410-386-3000.