Teen with gun hidden in backpack arrested at Target in Germantown

Montgomery County police arrested a teenage boy at the Target at Milestone Center in Germantown, after finding a handgun and marijuana in his backpack. Officers responded to the store on September 27 around 3:50 PM, after an employee called police. The employee informed officers that a teen who had been thrown out of the store previously had returned.

An officer witnessed the teen and another juvenile exit a restroom in the store and approached them. When confronted, the boys attempted to flee the store. After a short foot pursuit, they were taken into custody.

Searching the alleged trespassing teen's backpack, officers found a handgun with an obliterated serial number and marijuana. Christopher Ritter-Lucas, 16, was charged as an adult with crimes to include possession of a controlled dangerous substance and firearm-related offenses to include possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a minor (under the age of 21), and knowingly altering a firearm identification number.

The second teen, also a 16-year-old male, was found to have marijuana as well. He was charged as a minor with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and obstructing and hindering, and was released to the custody of his guardian.

Police released a photo of the gun, but not of Ritter-Lucas, because he is a juvenile.