Severn, MD — A traffic stop involving a stolen SUV in Severn led to two arrests and the recovery of a loaded handgun Tuesday evening, just hours before gunfire in a nearby neighborhood shattered a home’s glass door and damaged a vehicle. Anne Arundel County Police say the incidents occurred less than seven hours apart in the same Western District area, raising fresh concerns about overnight gun activity despite no reported injuries.
Officers first acted on an automated license plate reader alert around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, locating a stolen blue Dodge Journey near Reece Road and Telegraph Road.
Stolen vehicle stop leads to firearm charges
According to the Anne Arundel County Police Department, an officer quickly located the flagged vehicle and stopped it in the Severn area. Two occupants were taken into custody without incident.
Police identified the driver as 22-year-old Mercadi Renay Garza of Richmond, Virginia, and the passenger as 22-year-old Aiyonah Aalycia Fields, also of Richmond.
Fields now faces charges for unlawful possession of a loaded Glock 9mm handgun recovered during the stop. Authorities have not detailed additional charges related to the stolen vehicle but confirmed both individuals were arrested at the scene.
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Key Points
• Two arrested in Severn after license plate reader flags stolen Dodge Journey
• Passenger charged with possessing loaded Glock handgun during traffic stop
• Hours later, separate shooting damages home and vehicle; no injuries reported
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Overnight gunfire strikes home and vehicle
Just hours after the arrest, officers were called to another incident around 1:00 a.m. Wednesday involving reported gunfire near Myers Drive and Hyde Park Drive.
When officers arrived, those involved had already left the scene. A canvass of the area turned up multiple shell casings in the roadway, indicating shots had been fired in or around a residential street.
Investigators later confirmed that a residence in the 7900 block of Covington Avenue was struck by at least one projectile, shattering a rear sliding glass door. No one inside the home was injured.
Police also located the driver of a white Toyota believed to be connected to the incident. The driver reported their vehicle had been hit by gunfire, sustaining damage from the projectiles.
Investigation continues across both incidents
Anne Arundel County Police have not indicated whether the stolen vehicle arrest and the later shooting are connected, but both remain under active investigation by Western District detectives.
The proximity in time and location places both incidents within the same general area of Severn, though authorities have not released suspect descriptions or additional details about those involved in the shooting.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about the gunfire incident to contact the department at 410-222-8760. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.
Community impact and ongoing safety concerns
While no injuries were reported in either incident, the damage to a home and vehicle underscores the potential risk to residents when gunfire occurs in populated neighborhoods.
The earlier recovery of a loaded handgun during the stolen vehicle stop highlights a separate but related concern about illegal firearms and their presence in routine encounters.
Police have not announced any additional arrests related to the shooting and continue working to determine who fired the shots and what led to the incident.
What happens next
Garza and Fields remain facing charges stemming from the stolen vehicle stop, with Fields specifically charged in connection to the handgun.
Meanwhile, detectives continue to investigate the early-morning shooting, working to identify suspects and determine the circumstances behind the gunfire.
Both cases remain active as authorities gather evidence and pursue additional leads.