Restaurant Forced To Close After Shootings, Stabbings On Cinco De Mayo

LAUREL, MD — The use and occupancy permit for Amigos Mexican Grill has been temporarily suspended by the city's fire marshal and permit services after three people were shot and two stabbed at a Cinco de Mayo event held nearby.

The restaurant was shut down Friday.

Three people were shot outside Longhorn Steakhouse May 5 in Laurel during a Cinco de Mayo celebration held in the Laurel shopping center parking lot while two people were stabbed outside Amigos Mexican Grill around the same time, Laurel Police reported. All five victims were taken to area hospitals for treatment and are expected to survive, police said.

Shon Juan Cook Jr., 26, of Howard County, has been arrested in what Laurel Police say was a domestic-related stabbing that happened around 10 p.m. at Amigos Mexican Grill in the Centre at Laurel, Patch reported previously.

The stabbings are unrelated to the shootings, police say. Investigators previously said that a fight broke out outside the restaurants and shots were fired in front of the Longhorn Steakhouse, one of the many restaurants in the shopping center, which is in the 13600 block of Baltimore Avenue.

The shooting was captured on video and posted on social media, according to reports. The video shows several men arguing and punching each other in front of the steakhouse, which is next door to Amigos Mexican Grill. The. A burst of gunfire can be heard on that video, according to reports.

The permit suspension for Amigos Mexican Grill falls under Laurel City Code §§ 18-19 and 18-66.

Preliminary findings related to the May 5 Cinco de Mayo event include the "misrepresentation of the security plan, misrepresentation involving the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners and misrepresentation of the intended use of the space," Laurel officials stated.

“The safety of our residents, visitors and businesses remains our highest priority,” said Laurel Mayor Keith R. Sydnor. “The city of Laurel will continue working with our public safety and regulatory partners to ensure accountability and compliance with all City requirements.”

The suspension will remain in place for up to 30 days or until all conditions established by the city have been satisfied.