Towne Center Tussle: Waldorf Man Charged After Mall Fight

WALDORF, Md. — A Waldorf man is facing felony assault charges following a fight in the parking lot of St. Charles Towne Center that investigators say involved a handgun.

Mekhi Ulyssess Nathan, 18, of Waldorf, is charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault in connection with the February 23, 2026 incident.

According to court documents, officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. to Kohl’s at 11120 Mall Circle for a reported assault involving a weapon. Communications advised that a large fight had occurred in the parking lot and that a male had displayed a handgun. The primary victim was reported to be inside Kohl’s with mall security.

Mall security personnel informed responding officers that three males fled from the mall across St. Patrick’s Drive into a wooded area. Officers canvassed the area while deputies made contact with a 16-year-old male victim.

The victim reported he had gone to the mall to meet friends following an earlier verbal dispute with another group. The groups later agreed to meet in the AMC movie theater parking lot on Mall Circle.

Once in the parking lot, the victim stated he began fighting an unknown male dressed in all black when three additional individuals ran up and joined in the assault. He reported hearing someone indicate that a gun was present. The victim sustained a laceration to his left eyelid and a busted lip. He told officers the group chased him and his friends toward Kohl’s.

Investigators also spoke with a 16-year-old female witness who stated she observed a heavier-set male dressed in all black and wearing black Air Jordan sneakers with yellow accents produce a black handgun, rack it, and run toward the victim. She provided video footage of the incident. In the video, officers observed an individual matching that description running toward the fight while holding what appeared to be a black handgun in his left hand.

Another juvenile witness told officers she had been involved in the earlier dispute and identified one of the males in the opposing group as “Mekhi.”

While canvassing the area, officers located an individual matching the suspect description in the area of Bluebird Drive. The individual identified himself as Mekhi Ulyssess Nathan. Officers photographed Nathan and showed the image to witnesses. Witnesses positively identified Nathan as the individual who possessed the handgun during the assault.

Nathan was advised of his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with officers. He admitted being present during the fight and acknowledged possessing a handgun that had been given to him by another individual. He stated the firearm was intended to strike one of the victims. He admitted holding the handgun during the assault but claimed he never pointed it at anyone or chambered a round. Investigators noted his statement was inconsistent with video evidence showing him running toward the fight while holding the handgun in his left hand.

Nathan was arrested and transported to the Charles County Detention Center.

He was initially held without bond on February 23, 2026. A bond review hearing was conducted on February 24, 2026, before Judge John P. McKenna, where he remained held without bond.

A preliminary hearing is set for March 25, 2026, in Charles District Court.

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