Bowie, Md. – On September 12, 2026, former Bowie Police Department sergeant Robert Warrington received a sentence of home detention after a jury found him guilty of attempted second-degree murder. The conviction stems from a 2024 incident in which Warrington discharged a firearm at an unarmed civilian, striking the victim.
The trial concluded with Warrington being found guilty of the charge of attempted second-degree murder, reflecting the seriousness of shooting an unarmed individual. The incident occurred two years prior, in 2024, and involved Warrington, then serving as a police sergeant, confronting a civilian who was not carrying a weapon. The court determined that the use of deadly force was unwarranted, leading to the attempted murder conviction.
Following the conviction, the court imposed a sentence of home detention rather than incarceration. Under the terms of the sentence, Warrington is required to remain at his residence for the duration of the court-ordered period, complying with any monitoring and reporting conditions set by the presiding judge. The sentencing marks the final stage of the legal process that began with the 2024 shooting.
The case has drawn attention to the handling of police use-of-force incidents in Bowie and the broader Maryland region. Warrington's conviction and subsequent home detention sentence demonstrate the legal system's response to a law enforcement officer who employed lethal force against an unarmed person. The outcome underscores the accountability mechanisms that can be applied when police actions result in criminal charges, and it serves as a reference point for future cases involving similar allegations of excessive force.