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Brawl Turns into Exchange of Gunfire

OAKVILLE --- A fight broke out at an after-the-game party held for the Lady Cardinals in Oakville on Tuesday night, just before midnight.

The women's ball team picked a neighbor's home to unwind after a victory, reports Scott Boatman, owner of the Boatman's Mini-Mart in Oakville. The fight turned deadly when several white males who had entered the party without an invitation, participated in a brawl with several black males.  The deciding issue to get started was one man allegedly bumping into a woman.  

When the fight got underway, on August 8, 2006 at 2310 hours St. Mary's Sheriff's patrol officers responded to the parking lot of Boatman's Mini Mart located in Oakville ille, St. Mary’s County, Maryland for a reported shooting. Investigators were immediately contacted and the investigation was assumed by the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

Investigation revealed that a physical altercation began on the property of the Mini Mart involving several witnesses, victims (undisclosed names) and the suspect, Dempsey Wayne Herring Jr. a 25 year old male from Mechanicsville, Maryland and several of his friends.

            Witnesses reported that Herring struck one of the victims (undisclosed name) in the face after which, a mutual physical combat occurred between associates of Herring and the undisclosed victims/witnesses.  Herring left the Mini Mart and responded to his residence which is located in the area.  He then returned to the Mini Mart with a 12 gauge shotgun and fired several rounds into the crowd.

            As a result, three victims (undisclosed names) were injured.  One victim suffered a shotgun wound to the hand and was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment before being released.  Another victim suffered a shotgun wound to the right arm and was transported to the Washington Hospital Center for treatment and remains in stable condition.  The remaining victim suffered a shotgun wound to the back and legs and was also transported to the Washington Hospital Center for treatment and also remains in stable condition.