On Wednesday, a security guard seeking termination at a Maryland aerospace and defense firm allegedly shot and killed a colleague during a performance review.
In the late afternoon, 26-year-old Dylan Blake Chandler is accused of fatally shooting 37-year-old Joseph Keith Ammann at a Northrop Grumman facility in Anne Arundel County, according to police reports.
Ammann, also a security guard at the site, had approached Chandler to discuss his poor job performance. Documents from the court reveal that, during their conversation, Chandler expressed concerns about being either reprimanded or dismissed from his job.
Another security guard was present in the room during this tense conversation. Authorities from Anne Arundel County noted that the unnamed third guard intervened, suspecting Chandler might shoot Ammann, and managed to disarm him.
“As you can imagine, any workplace incident like this is shocking. Thankfully, it was contained quickly, and we appreciate the prompt action of the third security officer on site,” said Justin Mulcahy, a spokesperson for the Anne Arundel County Police Department, during a press conference.
One witness recounted hearing a loud bang and seeing Chandler with a handgun while Ammann lay on the ground, showing signs of having been shot, according to the sourced documents.
Following his arrest at the facility, Chandler reportedly told investigators that he felt Ammann had “robbed” him, suggesting he didn’t believe there would be any repercussions for his actions.
Both Ammann and Chandler were contract workers overseen by security firm Allied Universal.
In a statement, Allied Universal expressed their sorrow over the loss of Ammann, extending condolences to his family and pledging support for the ongoing investigation.
Chandler is facing charges of both first- and second-degree murder and is currently being held without bail. A preliminary hearing is set to take place next month.
Northrop Grumman is known as one of the largest contractors for the U.S. federal government, focusing on various systems for aviation, defense, and space missions.
