Chestertown: Police say man fired randomly from home; nearby residence hit; 80 guns seized under ERPO; suspect remains jailed.

CHESTERTOWN — A 67-year-old man who surrendered after a five-hour standoff Thursday randomly fired shots from inside his home through the exterior walls, striking at least one nearby residence, Chestertown police said.

Police identified the man as Todd Edward Hughes. He was alone in the residence in the 200 block of Edge of Town Drive during the incident, Lt. Steven Linz said. No injuries were reported.

Firearms Seized

Approximately 80 firearms were seized following an hours long standoff at a residence outside of Chestertown on Aug. 20. The image of above is representative of those seized and not the actual firearms confiscated by police.

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The incident began at about 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, when the Chestertown Police Department and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shots-fired complaint. According to an official statement from the Chestertown Police, officers arriving at the scene heard additional shots and attempted to contact the occupant; over the next two hours, officers heard shots multiple times.

Linz said specialized equipment indicated Hughes was experiencing a medical emergency before he surrendered. He said it is believed that medical distress contributed to Hughes’ state of mind leading up to the shooting, though investigators have not identified a motive.

Neighbors in the immediate area were notified by law enforcement, and Flatland Road near Edge of Town Drive was closed to traffic as a precaution, police said. Responders also contended with severe weather: a thunderstorm and a tornado watch occurred during the standoff.

Additional resources were provided by the Maryland State Police; the Queen Anne’s and Cecil County sheriff’s offices; the Salisbury Police Department; and the Delaware State Police, police said. The Maryland State Police deployed a tactical team and crisis negotiators.

After a medical evaluation, police served criminal charges on Hughes, including first-degree assault, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. Officers seized approximately 80 firearms and a large quantity of ammunition from the residence upon service of an Extreme Risk Protective Order, which temporarily prohibits possession of firearms, Linz said. The legality of the seized firearms remains under investigation, he said.

Hughes waived his right to an attorney at his initial appearance Friday and remains committed to the Kent County Detention Center pending a hearing, according to Kent County District Court records filed Aug. 21.

This incident is not connected to a separate law enforcement incident that occurred in the area last year. Thursday’s standoff involved a different residence and individual, Linz said.