A man was shot in the lower body outside a Dundalk seafood restaurant early Saturday, and the chaos that followed forced police to shut the place down for the rest of the night. Baltimore County Police officers responded around 1 a.m. to reports of a disturbance in the 7600 block of German Hill Road, where they found a crime scene in the parking lot of Scoozzi Restaurant & Lounge.
Officers searched the lot at 7625 German Hill Road with flashlights for evidence, according to Fox Baltimore. Patch and CBS News Baltimore also reported on the shooting; CBS noted it sparked a police investigation at the establishment, in a brief CBS News segment. An adult male suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his lower body and received medical attention after the police response, with responding medical personnel transporting him to an area hospital.
Fights Broke Out as Police Arrived
The scene didn't calm down once officers showed up. Multiple physical fights broke out both inside and outside the lounge, prompting responding officers, K9 units, and fire personnel to detain several individuals, according to a post from Instagram account @dundalknews. Emergency units ultimately closed Scoozzi's for the remainder of the night to maintain order and secure the venue.
Detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit have taken over the investigation, and as of Saturday no suspect details or a clear motive had been publicly released. Police noted there was no ongoing active threat to the surrounding neighborhood, the same report states. It remains unclear what sparked the initial dispute or whether the shooter and victim knew each other.
Cash Reward Offered for Tips
Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland announced that anonymous tipsters providing information could receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 if their tip leads to an arrest and felony charges. Tips can be submitted at 401-887-4636 or 1-866-7LOCKUP.
Scoozzi Restaurant & Lounge is a seafood restaurant on German Hill Road.
Violence Near Baltimore County Dining Spots
The parking lot shooting also echoes a broader trend of violence near Baltimore County dining spots this year, including an August incident where shots were fired outside a Ruth's Chris Steak House in Pikesville, with bullet casings and vehicle damage documented in that case as well.
For now, the investigation into what happened outside Scoozzi's remains open, with detectives still working to determine who fired the shot and why the scene spiraled into multiple fights before officers could regain control. Anyone with information is urged to contact Metro Crime Stoppers.
