Waldorf man charged after allegedly shouting racial slurs, pointing shotgun at couple

A Waldorf man was charged with a hate crime over the weekend after allegedly shouting racial slurs and pointing a shotgun at an African American couple.

On Oct. 20, an officer was sitting in the parking lot of the Wawa in White Plains when a man came running up to his vehicle, saying that another man, later identified as Harold Andrew Howard, 53, of Waldorf, had allegedly pointed a shotgun at him and his wife, charging documents say.

Howard was accused of allegedly shouting the n-word at the couple, the documents say.

The accuser, while talking to the officer, pointed to a silver Chevrolet Silverado parked on the side of Tractor Supply, which is located directly across the road from the Wawa, charging documents say. As the officer approached Howard, he told him to show him his hands.

According to charging documents, Howard allegedly kept asking why the officer was issuing the command and said that he was being threatened by the man who approached the officer.

The officer asked Howard, “Where is the shotgun?”

Howard allegedly stated that the shotgun was in the back of his truck.

The man who approached the officers said that he and his wife were in the Tractor Supply when they and a few other people stepped in dog feces, according to charging documents.

According to the man, Howard then allegedly yelled, “Make them [racial slur] clean it up.”

The man and Howard began to argue in the store, which carried into the parking lot. The man and his wife got into their truck and moved their vehicle forward so that they could load the items they had purchased.

According to charging documents, Howard was then heard yelling, “I got something for you [racial slur].”

Howard allegedly then held up a shotgun in the air and pointed it at the man and his wife.

The documents do not indicate whether the responding officer heard the racial slurs being shouted.

Charging documents state the man was approximately 20 yards from Howard when he allegedly pointed the shotgun, which was recovered from Howard’s vehicle.

Howard was placed under arrest, transported to Charles County Detention Center and charged with two felony counts of first-degree assault and a misdemeanor crime on the basis of race or religion.

According to the Maryland Judiciary Search, Howard’s bail hearing was held on Monday where it was decided that he will be held without bond.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 20 at the Charles County District Court.