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Crime & Safety

Man Shot in Chest at Bel Air Exxon

The victim lost consciousness en route to Maryland Shock Trauma, according to police.

UPDATE (Sunday 10:45 a.m.)—Bel Air Chief of Police Leo Matrangola said there are "no updates" to the condition of the shooting victim, or to the search for the suspect, as of 10:39 a.m.

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(Sunday, 1:48 a.m.)—An unidentified male was shot in the chest at the Bel Air  at the intersection of West MacPhail Road and Maryland Route 24 Saturday night.

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Police converged on the gas station adjacent to the  for a reported shooting at about 11:15 p.m. They had been investigating an attempted armed robbery at the High's on Bel Air South Parkway across from the Festival shopping center just before 11 p.m.

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The High's is within the sheriff's office's jurisdiction while the Exxon is within the .

Leo Matrangola said an unidentified male was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma after he was shot inside the Exxon. Matrangola did not say whether the victim was an employee.

The chief added that there were witnesses in the Exxon parking lot during the shooting.

Matrangola said the High's and Exxon incidents are related.

"It appears now that they could be. Within the time frame and general description [of the suspect]," Matrangola said. "[But] it’s a moot point at this time until we develop more information."

Matrangola said the suspect fled the Exxon in an unknown direction.

"[The suspect was] definitely wearing an all-black hood, pants and shirt," Matrangola said. He would not confirm the race of the suspect due to conflicting witness accounts at the Exxon.

"We do have a victim that’s been flown to Shock Trauma," said Matrangola, who added that the man lost consciousness during transport. He was shot in the chest, according to an officer on the scene.

At least six vehicles from the Harford County Sheriff's Office and Maryland State Police were on the scene of the High's attempted armed robbery investigation when at least five of the vehicles abruptly left to respond to the Exxon.

At one point at least 16 cars from the sheriff's office, state police and Bel Air Police Department were parked outside the Exxon. There was also a fire engine and ambulance from the .

Monica Worrell, spokeswoman for the Harford County Sheriff's Office, said two employees were in the High's when a "light-skinned black" male with an "average build" between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall entered the store with a handgun and demanded cash.

The employees activated the alarm at which point the suspect fled toward Maryland Route 24. Worrell said police do not know if the suspect fled on foot or in a vehicle.

The Exxon shooting happened about 20 minutes later a little more than two miles north. (See attached map graphic.)

Anyone with information about the Exxon incident should contact the Bel Air Police Department at 410-638-4500. Anyone with information about the High's incident should contact the Harford County Sheriff's Office at 410-838-6600.

This article was originally posted Saturday at 11:31 p.m.

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