UPDATE: Arson And Robbery At Mechanicsville 7-11 Being Investigated

The following is an official update from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office regarding the incident (pictures below):

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. — On July 25, 2021, at approximately 4:39 a.m. deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 28200 block of Three Notch Road in Mechanicsville, for a hold-up alarm activation. Deputies arrived on scene and located the employee/victim outside and heavy smoke inside the business. The victim advised a male suspect entered the business and demanded money. The victim cooperated and provided the suspect with an undisclosed amount of money. As the suspect was fleeing the business, an incendiary device was thrown inside the business.

Detectives and Crime Lab personnel from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division as well as members from the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and continued the investigation.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Detective Warren Forinash at (301) 475-4200 extension 78072 or by email at Warren.Forinash@stmarysmd.com. Information can also be provided to the Southern Regional Office of the State Fire Marshal at (443) 550-6820.

Citizens may remain anonymous and contact Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus their message to “CRIMES” (274637). Through the Crime Solvers Program tipsters are eligible for an award of up to $1,000 for information about a crime in St. Mary’s County that leads to an arrest or indictment.

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. — Police and the Maryland State Fire Marshal are investigating a fire that occurred this morning at a 7-11 store.

At approximately 4:40 a.m. on July 25, first responders were called to the scene at 28240 Three Notch Road for the reported building fire. Upon arrival, crews discovered the single story commercial building with smoke showing.

Firefighters deployed a 2” attack line and located a working fire on the shelves inside the store and extinguished the flame. Crews from Mechanicsville, Hughesville and the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department managed to get the fire under control in roughly 10 minutes.

St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a robbery had taken place prior to the fire, and that they are looking into whether incendiary devices were used by the suspects to ignite the fire. Nobody was harmed as a result of the fire.