On a tragic afternoon in Leonardtown, Maryland, a family dispute escalated into a violent confrontation that left a father dead and his son, the perpetrator, also deceased in a subsequent standoff with law enforcement. Stephen Edward Arnold, a 72-year-old male, was shot multiple times at a residence on Newtowne Neck Road on September 1, 2020. He was rushed to a nearby trauma center but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Also shot and critically wounded during the incident was Stephen's wife, Rosalea Denise Arnold, who was 66 at the time.
The suspect in the double shooting was quickly identified as the couple's 48-year-old son, Gregory Wayne Arnold Sr., of Callaway. Shortly after the shooting, deputies spotted Gregory Arnold Sr. driving a vehicle in Mechanicsville, which led to a police pursuit. The chase continued into Charles County before returning to St. Mary's County, where he stopped his vehicle on Route 234 near the intersection of Route 236.
Armed with two handguns, Gregory Arnold Sr. refused to exit his vehicle, prompting a barricade situation. Members of the Critical Incident Negotiations Team and the Emergency Services Team responded to the scene and attempted to negotiate a peaceful surrender. Despite their efforts, the standoff ended when Gregory Arnold Sr. sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a trauma center, where he was later pronounced dead. The investigation into the family dispute and the subsequent events was handled by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office.
