Dundalk Man Charged in Shooting, Botched Drug Sale

UPDATE (2:23 p.m., Aug. 8)—A Dundalk man, accused of on July 28 in Perry Hall, turned himself in to police on Monday, officials said.

Thomas Joseph Schnople, 24, of the unit block of Court Pleasant in Dundalk, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, kidnapping and firearm use in a violent crime, court records show.

Shortly after 1 a.m. on July 28, Schnople arrived at the 8400 block of Belair Road, across from , police said. A Perry Hall resident allegedly had offered to sell Schnople $600 worth of the prescription pain reliever Percocet, according to Sgt. Sheryl Cindric of the .

The alleged seller entered Schnople's vehicle, which also had two additional occupants. A verbal and physical fight  erupted between Schnople and the Perry Hall man, which continued outside the vehicle, according to police accounts. Schnople then allegedly fired five shots at the Perry Hall man as the alleged seller fled toward to his own car, striking that vehicle, police said.

Schnople allegedly drove from the scene, keeping the two other men inside of his vehicle against their will, according to Cindric.

No serious injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Schnople turned himself in to police, and was arrested and charged late in the afternoon on Aug. 6, according to Cindric.

A family member of the suspect contacted Patch and said that he disagreed specifically with the kidnapping charge against Schnople, and hopes to see it dismissed in court.

The actions of the other men involved in the incident, including the alleged seller, remain under investigation, Cindric added.

Capt. Michael Balog of the White Marsh precinct reminded residents that the unlicensed sale of prescription drugs is illegal and violators will be charged.