On the afternoon of January 28, 2026, a workplace dispute at a Northrop Grumman facility in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, turned deadly, ending the life of 37-year-old Joseph Keith Aman. A resident of Baltimore, Aman was working as a contracted security guard at the facility located in the 7300 block of Aviation Boulevard near the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The fatal encounter began when Aman, along with another security guard, called a fellow contracted guard, 26-year-old Dylan Blake Chandler of Pasadena, into an office to discuss his negative performance. Court documents indicate that the issues at hand were serious enough that they were likely to lead to Chandler's termination. In a sudden act of violence, Chandler allegedly drew a firearm and shot Aman.
A third security guard who was present in the office at the time of the shooting heard the gunshot and turned to see Chandler holding a gun and Aman on the ground. This guard bravely intervened, disarming Chandler and restraining him until the arrival of law enforcement. Despite the immediate response, Joseph Keith Aman succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Maryland Transportation Authority Police initially secured the area before Anne Arundel County Police homicide detectives took over the investigation. Dylan Blake Chandler was taken into custody and has since been charged with first- and second-degree murder, along with related charges. The weapon used in the shooting was recovered at the scene. Authorities have described the shooting as an isolated incident and have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat. The investigation into the tragic death of Joseph Keith Aman is continuing.
