St. Mary’s College campus was put on lockdown Wednesday afternoon when an armed robbery was reported on a footpath near Trinity Church in St. Mary’s City.

Lt. Rick Burris, commander of St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations, reports two suspects were taken into custody after a traffic stop on Route 4 in California.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. a man described as Hispanic, approximately 5’11”, wearing dark colored pants, gray shirt and dark colored hat approached the 48-year-old victim and displayed a handgun and demanded money. The victim, who was visiting Trinity Church, complied and the suspect fled.

Burris reports that Nathan A. Shelly, 21 of Lexington Park, and Gene M. Jenkins, 20 of Leonardtown, were both charged with Armed Robbery, 1st Degree Assault, Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Violent Crime, Theft, and Disturbing School Activities.

The arrests were the result of the two men being apprehended by BCI detectives when they were observed on Route 4, near Fairgrounds Road, after fleeing the scene.

Both men were incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center.

Although the incident did not involve any persons connected to St. Mary’s College, the school staff and students were temporarily asked to remain inside on Wednesday.

Emergency emails were sent to staff and students alerting of the campus lockdown, and Public Safety officers drove around with loudspeakers telling people to go to a safe place. Buildings and residence halls were locked.

St. Mary's Hall - The Bay Net photos by Sean Rice