Posted on: May 13, 2024, 01:48h.
Last updated on: May 13, 2024, 02:20h.
MGM National Harbor, near the nation’s capital, was the site of a fatal shooting over the weekend. Police in Maryland continue to search for a suspect.
It’s business as usual Monday at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., despite the integrated resort casino being where an unidentified man was shot and killed during the early morning hours of Saturday, May 11. The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit reports that an adult male was the victim of a fatal shooting. The victim’s identity will be made public once his family is located and notified.
Law enforcement responded to the MGM property at approximately 4:50 am Saturday after casino security reported a shooting in the parking garage. Police found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He died moments later on the scene despite life-saving measures performed by first responders.
Detectives are working to identify a suspect(s). Anyone with information is asked to contact Prince George’s County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS or by visiting www.pgcrimesolvers.com.
MGM National Harbor is just across the Potomac River from Alexandria and within two miles of the Washington, DC border.
Crime Continues to Rise
Prince George’s County continues to deal with a rash of elevated crime in the National Harbor area.
In late April, the county instituted a weekend curfew for persons 16 years of age and younger without adult supervision. The order requires any unsupervised person aged 16 and under to be off the National Harbor confines between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Among the concerns that have been raised are instances of large groups of juveniles and minors engaging in disorderly conduct, shoplifting, and vandalism. National Harbor businesses have suffered property damage and loss, and residents and visitors have been negatively impacted,” a county statement on the juvenile curfew read.
While it’s unknown whether the weekend’s casino shooting involved underage persons, the fatality is yet another black eye regarding the safety and security of the National Harbor area, a waterfront mixed-use development with an abundance of entertainment, shopping, and hospitality venues.
Business owners in the area told local media that they’ve noticed a downturn in visitors this year compared to last.
Business at MGM, at least on its casino floor, has been noticeably impacted. The casino won $834.1 million from players last year. While that still makes it among the richest casinos outside of Las Vegas, the gross gaming revenue represented a nearly 6% decline from 2022.
Casino Quiet
MGM National Harbor didn’t respond to media requests for a comment on the weekend shooting. That’s not surprising, as casinos in Las Vegas and elsewhere across the country typically don’t comment on crime experienced at their properties.
National Harbor has for several years been MGM’s most profitable asset outside of the Las Vegas Strip. MGM leadership blamed the GGR downturn experienced at MGM National Harbor last year on “a decrease in high-end table volume.” MGM National Harbor’s more than 200 table games saw win drop more than 14% from $407.5 million in 2022 to $348.8 million in 2023.
Gaming revenue has continued to slide at MGM this year. Through April, the casino generated GGR of approximately $276 million. At this time last year, the casino had won $286 million.
