Shiloh John-Daniel Bell, 24, of Clinton
Shiloh John-Daniel Bell, 24, of Clinton, is facing first-degree assault, second-degree assault, firearm, disorderly conduct and public intoxication-related charges after authorities said an argument at a Waldorf restaurant turned physical and involved a loaded handgun. Bell was charged with first-degree assault, wearing a handgun while under the influence, use of a firearm in a felony or violent crime, use of an assault weapon or magazine, second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and intoxicated public disturbance.
According to filings, a Charles County Sheriff’s Office officer responded at about 10:51 p.m. on June 19, 2026, to All American Steakhouse on St. Patrick’s Drive in Waldorf for a report of an assault in progress. When officers arrived, witnesses and victims in the parking lot reported that three men had been arguing inside the restaurant before the dispute moved outside and became physical. Witnesses said one of the men displayed a handgun before the group left on foot toward the area of Chick-fil-A on Crain Highway in Waldorf.
One male victim had a visible cut to his lower lip, with blood on his face and hands, according to the officer. That victim told police he had been “sucker punched” by one suspect and that another suspect had displayed a firearm. Officers later found three men walking in the parking lot of Giant on Crain Highway in Waldorf, and one of them had blood on his arms, according to the account.
Because officers had information about a fight and a possible firearm, the three men were detained while a victim was brought to the area for identification. During that detention, officers said they recovered a loaded Ruger-57 handgun from Bell’s waistband. The firearm had one round in the chamber and a magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition, according to the officer. Bell also had a valid Maryland wear-and-carry permit, the filing states.
Investigators later spoke with two male victims at the steakhouse. One victim said he had asked the three men to leave after they began arguing. He said that while he was trying to break up the argument and send them away, another male victim came over to help. According to the filing, the victim said Bell pushed the other victim, lifted his shirt to reveal a firearm tucked into the front of his waistband, placed his hand on the gun and said, “I got gun. I’m gonna put two in you.” The second male victim gave a similar account, saying he had arrived to pick up a family member, saw men fighting in the parking lot, tried to help break it up and was threatened in the same way.
The injured male victim was brought to the Giant parking lot and identified Bell as the person who threatened to shoot the other victim, according to the filing. Officers noted that the victim was not present when the gun was recovered, which they said supported the identification.
After Bell was arrested, an officer wrote that Bell was advised of his rights and agreed to speak. Bell said he was at All American Steakhouse with two other people when they began arguing. He said an unknown person approached and told them they needed to leave, but he did not leave because the person “got in his face.” Bell said he began walking away after more words were exchanged, but the person followed him through the parking lot with his hands in his pocket or waistband, which Bell said made him fear for his life. Bell told the officer he never displayed a firearm and said witnesses were “lying.”
The officer wrote that Bell cited “Maryland’s duty-to-retreat laws” and said he walked away while placing his hand on his firearm, but never presented it. The officer also reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on Bell’s breath and observing bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech. When asked whether he knew he could not be intoxicated while wearing and carrying a firearm, Bell admitted he knew it was illegal and admitted he was intoxicated while carrying the firearm.
Bell was taken to the Charles County Detention Center in La Plata. At his initial appearance on June 20, 2026, he was ordered held without bond after a judicial officer found a reasonable likelihood that he posed a danger to an alleged victim, another person or the community. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 17, 2026, in Charles County District Court.
After a bail review on June 22, 2026, Bell was released on his own recognizance, with conditions that he not engage in criminal activity and appear in court when required.
