Amigos Mexican Grill limits Cinco de Mayo tents after violent incident

Amigos Mexican Grill will not be allowed to stage Cinco de Mayo celebrations in tents for the next three years, a restriction that came out of a new agreement with Laurel officials after a violent May 5 event at the shopping center off 13600 Baltimore Avenue. The restaurant can still hold indoor celebrations, but the deal adds a stricter operating framework after a night that ended with five people injured and a heavy police response.

The City of Laurel first moved against the business by suspending its Use and Occupancy Permit effective Friday, May 8, 2026. City officials said preliminary findings pointed to misrepresentation of the restaurant’s security plan, the intended use of the space and information involving the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners. Laurel said the suspension could last up to 30 days or remain in place until the required conditions were met.

The May 5 celebration turned into two separate violent incidents tied to the Cinco de Mayo event. Police said three people were shot and two people were stabbed, for five total injuries. One shooting happened outside the LongHorn Steakhouse in the same shopping center, underscoring how far the violence spread beyond the restaurant itself.

Laurel police arrested Shon Juan Cook Jr., 26, of Howard County, in connection with the stabbing, which investigators described as domestic-related. Police also identified Michael Dakernu Dennah, 24, of Beltsville, as the suspected shooter and said an arrest warrant had been issued. Officers urged the public to come forward with video, photos or tips tied to the incidents.

Under the agreement reported after the closure, Amigos also committed to hire law enforcement from 8 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays through Saturdays and to close at midnight. The restaurant agreed not to request tents for Cinco de Mayo for three years and to pay Prince George’s County for the extra resources and backup used during the May 5 response.

NBC Washington reported that Amigos reopened on May 15, after the city and the restaurant reached an agreement. WTOP said the business had been closed for at least a month or until it met certain conditions, showing how a single holiday event became not just a police matter but a licensing and enforcement case with financial consequences for the business and the county.