In the early hours of a Wednesday morning, the quiet of Waldorf, Maryland, was shattered by the sound of gunfire in the parking lot of a Westlake Dash-In convenience store. When police arrived at the scene on Smallwood Drive just after midnight on October 29, 2025, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the men, 31-year-old Charles Arlando Hamilton, a Black male from Waldorf, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other man was airlifted to a trauma center with critical injuries.
Investigators believe the shooting was not a random act of violence but rather a targeted attack. Preliminary findings suggest that an unknown suspect opened fire on Hamilton and the other victim as they were standing outside a vehicle near the gas pumps. The Charles County Sheriff's Office has been actively investigating the homicide, processing evidence from the scene and reviewing surveillance footage.
Despite the ongoing investigation, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and a description of the suspect has not been released to the public. Detectives have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact them or to provide anonymous tips through Charles County Crime Solvers. A GoFundMe campaign was created to help his family with funeral and memorial expenses.
