A Maryland man was charged with first-degree murder after allegedly stealing a forklift from a Lowe’s Home Improvement store and then running over a woman with it in the nearby parking lot of a Home Depot, authorities said Monday.
Officers responded to a report of a burglary and theft in progress at a Lowe’s at about 12:40 a.m. Sunday, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Facebook.
The suspect, Bryce Caleb Timothy Brown, 20, of Waldorf, “broke into the business, stole a forklift and rammed it through the rear gates,” according to the sheriff’s office.
The Home Depot in Waldorf, Md. Google Maps
Brown then drove the forklift to a Home Depot, which is about half a mile northeast of the Lowe’s, where he rammed a vehicle in the store’s parking lot. Inside that vehicle, the sheriff’s office said, was a sleeping Gloristine Pinkney, 73, of Waldorf, whom Brown did not know.
Pinkney woke up, got out of the car and began running away, the sheriff's office said.
“Brown followed her, struck her with the forklift and ran over her, and then stole the victim’s car and fled,” according to the sheriff's office. “Officers who were investigating the initial burglary at Lowe’s canvassed the area and observed the forklift in the Home Depot parking lot. They subsequently discovered the victim underneath of the forklift; she was pronounced deceased on the scene.”
Brown was identified as a suspect and arrested Sunday evening, the sheriff’s office said. He was being held without bond at the county detention center, the sheriff’s office said, on charges that included first-degree murder, second-degree murder, assault and theft.
It was unclear Monday afternoon whether Brown had retained an attorney. His relatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
Attempts to reach Pinkney's family were unsuccessful.
Waldorf is about 60 miles south of Baltimore.
fungobat on July 4th, 2023 at 01:32 UTC »
You've made it through this life for 73 years, and then THIS is how it ends for you. Holy shit.
MangyMoose76 on July 4th, 2023 at 00:27 UTC »
Suspect work at Lowe's and apparently has admitted to committing the crimes.
Local News Article
UPDATE: 7/3/2023: On July 2, 2023, at 12:40 a.m., Deputies from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Lowe’s located at 2525 Crain Highway in Waldorf, for the report of a burglary in progress. According to witnesses, the suspect broke into the business, stole a forklift, and fled by ramming the gates. When officers arrived, the suspect was already gone. Officers canvassed the area and located the forklift at the Home Depot on Jefferson Farm Place. The suspect was not on the scene.
Video surveillance showed the suspect to be a black male wearing only shorts/underwear operating the forklift during the events at Lowe’s.
Officers investigated further and found a deceased female was located trapped under the forklift and evidence that a vehicle had been stolen was located on scene.
The victim was later identified as Gloristine Pinkney, 73, of Waldorf.
Through witnesses and security footage, Bryce Caleb Timothy Brown, 20, of Waldorf, was developed as a suspect in this case.
On July 2 at approximately 8:40 p.m. police located Bryce Brown at his home. Bryce was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with them about the incident.
Brown stated he broken into Lowes through a rear fire door and stole a forklift, using it to cause damage at the store, and he then drove the forklift to Home Depot where he intentionally rammed the forks into a car in the parking lot. Once he did, Brown stated a female got out and tried to flee. Brown told police he intentionally followed her, striking her with the forklift and running over her. Brown stated after she had become tangled in the wheels of the forklift, he took the woman’s car and fled the area. Brown said he did not know the woman prior to the attack, but he did intentionally run her over with the forklift, killing her.
Brown was able to lead officers to the location where he parked her stolen 2019 Lincoln MKZ sedan. It was determined the vehicle was registered to a female and a check of her MVA photo and physical information matched that of the victim.
Employees believed they recognized the suspect in the photo to be employee Bryce Brown and a manager confirmed it to be Brown operating the forklift and destroying property belonging to Lowe’s. Brown reported for work on July 1, 2023, and at approximately 5:00 p.m. he handed his scanner to another employee without saying a word he left without clocking out.
The name of the deceased woman is being withheld at this time,
Bryce Caleb Timothy Brown, 20, of Waldorf, was charged with the following:
MURDER – FIRST DEGREE MURDER-SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT-FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT-SEC DEGREE THEFT: $25,000 TO $100,000 MOTOR VEHICLE/UNLAWFUL TAKING BURGLARY/2ND DEGREE/GENERAL BURGLARY-4TH DEGREE-STORE7/2/2023: On July 2, 2023, at 12:40 a.m., officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home improvement store in the 2500 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf for the report of a burglary in progress. According to witnesses, the suspect broke into the business, stole a forklift, and fled by ramming the gates.
When officers arrived, the suspect was already gone. Officers canvassed the area and located the forklift at a nearby home improvement store on Jefferson Farm Place. The suspect was not on the scene. Officers investigated further and found a female underneath the forklift; she was deceased.
Based on additional information, it appears the suspect encountered the woman in the parking lot of the business, struck her with the forklift and fled in her car, which may be a dark copper-colored, 2019 Ford Fusion with damage to the passenger side of the vehicle and missing a side mirror, similar to the car depicted in the photos. The woman has not been identified and it is unclear if she knew the suspect.
As detectives continue pursuing leads, investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating the missing car. Anyone who sees the vehicle is asked to call 9-1-1. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 301-932-2222. Detective Weaver is investigating.
DCDavis on July 4th, 2023 at 00:08 UTC »
"Brown then drove the forklift to a Home Depot, which is about half a mile northeast of the Lowe’s, where he rammed a vehicle in the store’s parking lot. Inside that vehicle, the sheriff’s office said, was a sleeping Gloristine Pinkney, 73, of Waldorf, whom Brown did not know. Pinkney woke up, got out of the car and began running away, the sheriff's office said. “Brown followed her, struck her with the forklift and ran over her, and then stole the victim’s car and fled,”
What a POS