Ocean City Man Fires Replica Firearm into Passing Vehicle

OCEAN CITY, MD – (November 2, 2015): Two male victims chased an 18-year-old suspect in Ocean City Sunday afternoon, after the man fired a replica firearm into their vehicle.

On November 1, 2015, at approximately 12 p.m. Ocean City police responded to 14^thStreet and St. Louis Avenue in reference to a weapon violation. When officers arrived, a suspect was being detained by two victims.

Officers discovered that the suspect, 18-year-old Devin J. Gales of Ocean City, was in the area of 14^th Street and Philadelphia Avenue when Gales fired a replica firearm into a passing vehicle. Gales then fled west towards St. Louis Avenue. Two males in the passing vehicle chased Gales and detained him in the area of 14^th Street and St. Louis Avenue before calling police. The replica firearm was located nearby and, despite its close resemblance to a handgun, was later determined to be an airsoft BB gun.

Ocean City police have charged Gales with possession of a replica gun, discharging an air-gun within city limits, two counts of reckless endangerment and two counts of second degree assault. Gales was seen by a Maryland District Court Commissioner and is currently being held at the Ocean City Public Safety Building on $5,000 bond.

###