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Guns flood the nation’s capital. Maryland, D.C. attorneys general point at top sellers.

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Guns flood the nation’s capital. Maryland, D.C. attorneys general point at top sellers.



The lawsuit announced on Tuesday claims three stores sold one person 34 guns over six months and ignored the buyer’s red flags.

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The nation’s capital is grappling with a deadly flood of weapons. Prosecutors are pointing fingers at three federally licensed gun stores in Maryland.

Attorneys general of Maryland and Washington D.C. filed a lawsuit Tuesday against three gun shops for selling firearms to a straw purchaser – the same stores identified as the top retailers of recovered crime guns in Maryland between August 2020 and July 2021, according to a report commissioned by the state attorney general’s office.

According to the lawsuit, the three stores in Montgomery County, Maryland, roughly 25 miles northwest of Washington D.C., collectively sold 34 semiautomatic pistols to one person in six months. Only two remained with the purchaser, while the rest are presumed to be trafficked, prosecutors said.

Some have been recovered from people accused of assault, a stabbing, and drug distribution, the lawsuit added, while most remain unaccounted for.

“Federally licensed gun dealers know the law and they know what to look for to spot possibleillegal trafficking. As this lawsuit demonstrates, gun dealers cannot just choose to ignore these warning signs and guardrails,” said Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown. “Let this be a warning to other dealers who put public safety at risk to make a profit: We are watching, and we will hold you accountable for illegal conduct that fuels gun violence across our region.”

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The lawsuit comes as public health experts and gun safety advocates warn about an alarming level of gun violence across the nation — guns are the leading killer of children in the U.S. and kill nearly 50,000 people a year. Lawsuits in other states have also targeted sellers and traffickers as culprits in gun crimes, including New Jersey, Michigan, and Philadelphia.

Lawsuit: Man bought 34 guns in 6 months

Three federally licensed gun stores – Engage Armament, United Gun Shop and Atlantic Guns – collectively sold Demetrius Minor, an “obvious straw purchaser,” 34 guns between April 6 and October 5, 2021, according to the lawsuit filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

According to Engage Armament’s records cited in the lawsuit, Minor spent more than $31,000 at the one store for at least 25 guns. In July 2021 alone, he came to the store at least four times and bought five guns, prosecutors said.

Minor gave many of the weapons to a relative, Donald Willis, a Washington D.C. resident with a record of violent felonies, the lawsuit said, and Willis then spread the guns to other “dangerous individuals.” Minor has been convicted for his role in the straw sales. But Tuesday’s lawsuit said the stores “who chose profits over safety” have faced no consequences for their “critical role in fueling gun violence” in the D.C. metro region.

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At least nine of the weapons, which the lawsuit contends were “illegally sold,” were found at crime scenes in Washington D.C. and surrounding Maryland suburbs. “Many more are likely in the hands of other individuals legally barred from possessing firearms and will be used in future crimes,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit cites a federally required form to buy a gun — the ATF firearms transaction record — which is used to determine whether a gun sale is legal. The form notes that straw purchases are illegal, meaning the firearm must go to the person who legally bought it. It also states that the seller is responsible for ensuring the sale is legal, and simply conducting a background check does not fulfill obligations.

The lawsuit notes that just as straw purchases are illegal, it is also against the law for a firearm dealer to help advance illegal sales, and federal law requires licensed dealers to report when an unlicensed buyer purchases two or more handguns within five days.

Atlantic Guns denied the straw sales allegations in a statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday.

“Atlantic Guns, Inc. has never and will never knowingly sell to someone who we have reason to believe is committing a straw purchase,” the store said, declining to comment further before review of the lawsuit.

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Engage Armament and United Gun Shop didn’t immediately return USA TODAY’s requests for comment.

Cities and states across U.S. go after sellers to battle gun violence

The lawsuit Tuesday is the latest to sweep the nation as cities and victims of shootings target firearm stores and traffickers to battle gun violence.

Last July, Philadelphia announced a lawsuit against three vendors that the city said were the source of more than 1,300 crime guns between 2015 and 2019. The weapons were used in shootings, a home invasion, drug crimes, vehicle theft, and more, according to the city.

Three Missouri men were charged earlier this year for illegally selling guns to the people who fired shots into the Super Bowl victory parade that killed a mother and injured over 20 people earlier this year.

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In Michigan, the parents of a 14-year-old Oxford High School student who was severely injured in a 2021 mass killing, named a gun store as one of the defendants in a lawsuit, alleging Acme Shooting Goods negligently and illegally sold the firearm used in the school assault that killed four people and wounded seven others. Acme sold the gun to the shooter’s father while ignoring signs it was a straw purchase, the lawsuit alleged.

In July 2023, a northern Indiana gun shop that police called a key supplier of Chicago’s criminal firearms market announced it was closing its doors after Chicago sued Westforth Sports in 2021 over what it said was a pattern of illegal gun sales.

A USA TODAY investigation earlier this year found the majority of guns used in crimes are sold by a small fraction of the nation’s gun shops. Two of the Maryland gun shops named in Tuesday’s lawsuit – United and Atlantic – were on a list by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of stores that sold at least 25 guns traced to a crime over a year that were purchased within the past three years.

Contributing: Nick Penzenstadler and Grace Hauck, USA TODAY



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Maryland

Maryland, Cornell to face off in NCAA men’s lacrosse championship game

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Maryland, Cornell to face off in NCAA men’s lacrosse championship game


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The men’s lacrosse championship matchup is set. Top-seeded Cornell and No. 2 Maryland earned victories on semifinal Saturday in Foxborough, Mass.

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They’ll square off Monday at Gillette Stadium for the championship at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Cornell got the day started with an 11-9 triumph over fifth-seeded Penn State. The Big Red (17-1) avenged their only loss of the regular season, while the Nittany Lions (12-5) came up short in their third attempt to advance beyond the semifinals.

It took nearly an entire quarter for either team to get on the board. Cornell finally notched a goal in the final minute of the opening period, but Penn State held a 5-4 lead at halftime. The Big Red took charge with a decisive 6-1 third quarter for a 10-6 margin. The Nittany Lions had erased a six-goal deficit a week earlier in a comeback win against Notre dame and had trailed by four in their earlier victory against the Big Red, but this time they could get no closer than one the rest of the way.

Cornell held on despite record-setting attackman and Tewaaraton Award finalist CJ Kirst being held without a point for the first time in his collegiate career. His teammates took up the slack as Michael Long notched a game-high five points on two goals and three assists, and Hugh Kelleher chipped in with three goals and an assist from the midfield, including the final tally of the game with 5:43 remaining that snapped the Nittany Lions’ three-goal run. Liam Matthews paced Penn State with four goals and Matt Traynor scored twice.

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In the second semifinal, Maryland raced out to an 8-2 lead in the first half and coasted to a 14-8 victory over sixth-seeded Syracuse. The Terrapins (14-4) surrendered the game’s first goal in the opening minute but put on a defensive clinic for the remainder of the day. The Orange (13-6), making their first trip to Championship Weekend since 2013, struggled to get good looks at the cage all afternoon.

Eric Spanos led the way on the offensive end for the Terrapins with four goals and an assist. But the day belonged to the defenders as Logan McNaney made 14 saves and Will Schaller held top Syracuse attackman Joey Spallina to a single assist.

Monday’s championship game will be a rematch of the 2022 final, a 9-7 win for Maryland in which McNaney’s 17-save effort earned him tournament most outstanding player honors. That title was the fourth overall for the Terrapins in the NCAA era and the second under current coach John Tillman, and Maryland will be playing on Memorial Day for the fourth time in five years.

The Big Red will be seeking their fourth NCAA crown but their first since 1977. Big Red coach Connor Buczek, a Cornell alum who assumed the reins prior to the abbreviated 2020 season, has led his alma mater to the title game twice in his four full campaigns at the helm.

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Maryland Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for May 23, 2025

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Maryland Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for May 23, 2025


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The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at May 23, 2025, results for each game:

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Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 23 drawing

07-18-40-55-68, Mega Ball: 18

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 23 drawing

Midday: 9-3-0

Evening: 5-8-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 23 drawing

Midday: 7-8-2-0

Evening: 8-5-3-2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from May 23 drawing

Midday: 6-0-9-9-7

Evening: 6-2-3-9-9

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Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from May 23 drawing

12-31-37-53-59, Cash Ball: 01

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 23 drawing

9 a.m.: 12

1 p.m.: 04

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6 p.m.: 11

11 p.m.: 01

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from May 23 drawing

04-06-13-16-34, Bonus: 31

Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Keno

Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.

Claiming by Mail

Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:

Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center

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1800 Washington Boulevard

Suite 330

Baltimore, MD 21230

For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.

Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less

Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:

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  • Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
  • MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
  • Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
  • Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
  • Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
  • Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.

When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
  • Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
  • Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
  • Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
  • MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
  • Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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NCAA tournament semifinal preview: No. 2-seed Maryland vs. No. 6-seed Syracuse

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NCAA tournament semifinal preview: No. 2-seed Maryland vs. No. 6-seed Syracuse


Coming off a win in Annapolis that sends No. 2-seed Maryland men’s lacrosse to the Final Four, head coach John Tillman quoted an old Navy SEAL adage to describe how his team handles the pressure of playing on lacrosse’s final weekend for yet another season.

“‘The only easy day is yesterday’… we can kind of fall back on [our slogan], be the best,” Tillman said.

Maryland is close to definitively proving themselves the best — a win Saturday books a place in the national championship game. But the semifinal, with so much on the line, brings sharply into focus the decisions of Maryland lacrosse 24 years ago.

In 2001, Maryland men’s lacrosse left no stone unturned searching for head coach Dick Edell’s replacement. Gary Gait, now No. 6-seed Syracuse’s head coach, was an assistant coach for Maryland women’s lacrosse and wanted the step up. Ultimately, they chose Dave Cottle; Gait said Tuesday he left Maryland because he did not get the men’s job.

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While Cottle’s uninspiring tenure left Maryland faithful regretting the choice, his successor has eased complaints. Tillman has won 78% of his games with the Terps. Maryland is in the Final Four for the 11th time in his 15 seasons in charge.

The Terps and the Orange face off in the NCAA semifinals at 2:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. The game will be shown on ESPN2.

What happened last time

Gait got his spot at the helm of a men’s program at Syracuse in 2022. Since then, the Orange are winless in four matchups against the Terps, including an 11-7 Maryland win on February 15.

That game — one of four against soon-to-be NCAA quarterfinalists that Maryland played in its first five weeks — began close. Neither team led by more than one goal before halftime, and momentum swung from Syracuse to Maryland and back.

A 4-0 Maryland run to open the second half blew the game open. Notably, that run featured two man-up goals. Maryland usually plays clean games — the Terps have 25 penalties called both for and against them on the season — but Syracuse has committed 66 penalties this season, sixth-most in the nation.

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And with the offense creating some separation, Maryland’s defense took control in the second half. In its first outdoor game on the season, with rain pouring down, Syracuse scored twice over the final 30 minutes.

What’s happened since

Maryland has stayed the course throughout the year, coming up just short to Ohio State for both the Big Ten’s regular season and tournament titles but persevering into the final weekend as has been customary.

The Terps’ defense is a known quantity — second-best in the country in goals against — but their offense is not as steady, plagued by down stretches throughout the season and uninspiring play at times. Between the two, Maryland’s methodical pace has earned the ire of neutrals.

“To be honest, we’d rather play fast than slow. I think any coach would,” Tillman said. “But we’re always going to play the style that, you know, is in front of us.”

The 13-5 Orange have had a turbulent season, with long winning streaks offset by slumps. A week after losing to the Terps, Syracuse lost a one-goal game to Harvard at home. From there, they strung together a six-game winning streak; back-to-back-to-back losses to Cornell, North Carolina and Duke rounded out the regular season and made many question their postseason potential.

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Since then, though, Syracuse has been orange-hot. Wins against Notre Dame and Duke secured the ACC Tournament crown. In the NCAAs, Syracuse exacted its revenge on Harvard in overtime before escaping one of those neutrals-endearing dramatic shootouts over No. 6-seed Princeton. Curiously, all of Syracuse’s last three victories have come by a single goal.

“We found a way to win these close games and make plays when we need them,” Gait said. “I think that’s been the journey of the season.”

Three things to know

1. Faceoff watch. Jonah Carrier tied his season-high with nine faceoff wins against Georgetown in the quarterfinal. Conversely, after winning eight of nine against Air Force in the opening round, Shea Keethler won none of his six faceoff attempts against the Hoyas.

Syracuse’s John Mullen leads the country with 175 ground balls — 22 clear of second place — and is fifth in the country with a 63.9% win rate from the X. The Massachusetts native is a force in the circle, but Maryland has shown that they can compete with him.

Shea Keethler won 50% of his faceoffs against Mullen in February. Carrier had not broken into the lineup yet; in his stead, Sean Creter won four of nine.

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2. Every possession counts. Syracuse and Maryland enter Saturday’s matchup as the third and fourth best teams in the nation in turnovers per game, each averaging roughly 13.5 per game. More Syracuse turnovers (21.4%) than Maryland turnovers (13.7%) come from clears, but each team missed just one clear in February. Neither team is likely to gift the other an opportunity to take an advantage.

3. How do you handle Joey Spallina? Syracuse’s No. 22 has been a force this season. Spallina leads the nation with 54 assists, but he’s a shooter, too, having scored four goals from 10 shots in the quarterfinals. The junior is streaky, and he’s been accused of not showing up when it matters. But with Will Schaller possibly needing to stick to Owen Hiltz, the Orange’s top goalscorer, how Spallina fares against Maryland’s other close defenders could decide the game.



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