University of Maryland Alerts Community After Off-Campus Armed Robbery on Baltimore Avenue

Three men entered a store in the 7200 block of Baltimore Avenue in College Park, displayed handguns and took property at approximately 6:54 p.m. on February 21, the University of Maryland Police Department said in a community notice titled “UMD Community Notice: Off-Campus Commercial Robbery (with a weapon).” UMPD says officers responded at about 6:58 p.m. to assist the Prince George’s County Police Department, which is handling the investigation under PGPD CASE #: 26-0009060.

“The purpose of this e-mail is to make you aware of an incident that occurred off-campus near the University of Maryland, College Park campus,” the UMPD notice begins, then lists BRIEF DETAILS including: “On February 21, 2026, at approximately 6:58 p.m., the University of Maryland Police Department responded to the 7200 block of Baltimore Avenue to assist the Prince George’s County Police Department for a report of a commercial robbery (with a weapon). The incident occurred at approximately 6:54 p.m., on February 21, 2026.” The notice adds, “The store employees reported that three men entered the store, displayed handguns and committed a robbery. The suspects took property and left the store.”

Media reporting from WJLA offers differing on-the-ground details. WJLA’s report names the scene as the 8900 block of Rhode Island Avenue and describes two suspects: “The first suspect is described as being 6 feet tall, wearing a black jacket over a white shirt, dark-colored pants, red shoes and wearing a black face mask. He was showing a handgun, officers said.” WJLA describes a second man “wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, white shoes and was also wearing a black face mask,” and states, “Police said the pair was last seen heading toward Greenbelt Road. Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area.”

UMPD and WJLA details conflict on location and number of suspects; UMPD’s notice reports three men at the 7200 block of Baltimore Avenue, while WJLA describes a two-person “pair” at the 8900 block of Rhode Island Avenue. Prince George’s County remains the investigating agency and UMPD says it responded to assist; the university notice says, “The Prince George’s County Police Department is continuing to investigate this incident.”

UMPD urged anyone with information to contact PGPD and provided reporting guidance: “Anyone with information related to this incident and/or the possible identity of the suspects are encouraged to contact the Prince George’s County Police Department (911 or 301-352-1200).” The campus police also reminded the community that “The University of Maryland Police Department provides a walking escort service for anyone walking on or near campus. If you would like a walking escort, please call 301-405-3555. You may also use a blue light emergency phone to call for an escort.”

UMPD added that “When available for release, additional information, including updated description of suspect may be obtained by accessing UMPD News.” For now PGPD case 26-0009060 remains open and investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident on the evening of February 21 to contact police.