The man who allegedly shot himself in the leg after an attempted robbery in a dorm at Towson University last week has been identified as 19-year-old Gage Flood of Manchester.

Flood, who is unaffiliated with the university, remains held without bond and is facing nine charges, including armed robbery, first-degree assault and other firearm-related offenses.

Baltimore County Police officers rushed to the Tower C residence hall for what they thought was an attempted suicide, according to the charging documents. Instead, they discovered a botched robbery over a $1,000 Celine hat.

Investigators found that Flood engaged in an argument with three people in the dorm’s stairwell, one of whom was wearing the Celine hat. Celine, a designer brand based in France, typically sells hats ranging from $500 to $2,000, and also sells luxury clothing, jewelry and bags. The brand has some storefronts in the United States and is considered similar to Saint Laurent and Loewe.

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Neither Flood nor those he allegedly attempted to rob were students at Towson.

During the encounter, Flood pointed a black handgun at the three victims and repeatedly threatened to kill them, according to the documents. Flood accidentally shot himself in the leg during a brief struggle, police said. After shooting himself, Flood handed his gun to a Towson student present during the attempted robbery, according to police.

The victims recorded Flood after he shot himself. In the video, he hands the gun to a fourth person, a woman, on the scene, according to charging documents. The Baltimore County Police Department did not respond to an inquiry about whether that woman would be charged with a crime.

Flood received medical care after the shooting before being charged with the crimes, police said.

It’s unclear how Flood or the victims gained access to the dormitory. To get into residence halls, students have to scan their OneCard, which gives them access to most campus buildings and their meal plan. Non students need to sign in with a security guard or resident advisor stationed in the lobby.

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Like most college dorms, Tower C does not have metal detectors or required bag searches.

The shooting occurred the night before the TigerFest concert, one of the biggest social events on the university’s campus. Students attending the event had to walk through metal detectors and carry their items in approved clear bags.

The last major shooting at Towson took place almost five years ago.

On Sept. 3, 2021, three people were injured in a shooting at an unsanctioned party on the Towson campus. This month, the Maryland Supreme Court began hearing arguments over whether one of the victims, Catherine Torney, can sue the university for negligence.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.