Campus Alert Archive
Towson

A Designer Hat Robbery in Tower C's Stairwell Ended With the Robber Shooting Himself in the Leg

MDshots firedemergency notificationmedium confidence

At approximately 9:15 PM EDT on Thursday, April 16, 2026, Towson University Police responded to reports of gunfire in a stairwell of Tower C, a residence hall at 150 Cross Campus Drive. A 19-year-old non-student, Gage Flood, attempted to rob three students of a designer Celine hat at gunpoint; during a struggle, Flood accidentally shot himself in the leg. Flood was arrested and charged with armed robbery, first-degree assault, and firearm offenses. No other injuries were reported.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
1
Institution
Towson University
Public Masters · MD
TU Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction186 chars
TU ALERT: Shots fired reported in Tower C, Cross Campus Drive. Shelter in place inside your room. Lock your door. Do not enter Tower C. TUPoliceDepartment is on scene. Updates to follow.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed, not verbatim: Baltimore Banner and CBS Baltimore confirm TU Police were called for possible gunshots in a Tower C stairwell at approximately 9:15 PM EDT on April 16, 2026.
Students recounted hearing the initial alert and described panic in the building as they locked down in their rooms.
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction238 chars
TU ALERT UPDATE: Tower C all clear. One individual is in custody after a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an attempted robbery. No students were injured. Normal activities may resume. Contact TU Police at 410-704-4444 with information.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed all-clear; CBS Baltimore and Fox Baltimore confirm the suspect, Gage Flood, was taken into custody after shooting himself in the leg during a struggle with robbery victims.
The robbery was over a designer Celine hat; Flood pointed a handgun at three students in the stairwell before the weapon discharged during a struggle.
Context

Background

On the evening of April 16, 2026, a 19-year-old man entered a stairwell of Tower C, a Towson University residence hall on Cross Campus Drive, and confronted three students at gunpoint demanding their property. Police allege Flood was trying to steal a designer Celine hat, worth approximately $1,000, when a struggle ensued. During the altercation, Flood's handgun discharged and he shot himself in the leg. Students inside the dorm described hearing the shot and panicking, locking their doors and waiting for an all-clear. Flood was transported to a hospital with a non-life-threatening wound and arrested on charges including armed robbery and first-degree assault. No students were physically injured. The incident came at a sensitive time for Towson: the university's 2021 Freedom Square shooting (which injured three) and the 2022 off-campus murder of student Ikemefuna Eguh had kept campus safety in the spotlight. Towson University is a public masters-level institution in Towson, Maryland with approximately 22,000 students and is part of the University System of Maryland.
Outcome
Gage Flood, 19, of Manchester, Maryland was arrested and charged with armed robbery, first-degree assault, and multiple firearm-related offenses. He shot himself in the leg during a struggle with his intended victims and was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No students were injured. Flood was not a Towson University student.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Towson University dorm shooting occurred during attempted robbery, police say - The Baltimore Banner
    thebanner.com
  2. News
    Charges pending for man who shot himself while committing robbery at Towson University - CBS Baltimore
    cbsnews.com
  3. News
    Man shot himself in Towson University dorm while trying to steal designer hat, police say - CBS Baltimore
    cbsnews.com
  4. Student Paper
    Police arrest person in self-inflicted shooting case in TU dorm - The Towerlight
    thetowerlight.com
Tags
robberyshots-fireddormitoryself-inflictedmarylandtowsonresidence-hallnon-student
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion