In the early hours of September 14, 2025, the parking lot of a shopping center on Landover Road in Prince George’s County, Maryland, became the scene of a dangerous spectacle that has become all too familiar in recent years: an illegal car takeover. Dozens of cars spun in dizzying circles, engines roaring, as hundreds of onlookers crowded perilously close to the action. The event, which police describe as a “vehicle takeover,” ended in chaos when 18-year-old Naef Salmo of Millersville struck a young woman with his car while performing stunts, then fled the scene, leaving her with serious injuries.
According to the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD), the incident unfolded at approximately 1:45 a.m. and was emblematic of the growing problem of illegal car meets across Maryland. These gatherings, often organized online and held in parking lots or public intersections, feature drivers performing reckless maneuvers—donuts, burnouts, and high-speed stunts—sometimes within feet of dense crowds. As wild aerial footage released by PGPD shows, the atmosphere is electric but fraught with danger. The video captures cars spinning wildly as spectators press dangerously close, a scene that, as one local business patron told DC News Now, makes it “so easy to get hit, cause accidents, maybe even get killed.”
The woman struck by Salmo’s car was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, she has since been released and is recovering, but the incident has reignited debate over the risks of such gatherings and the challenges they pose for law enforcement. Investigators quickly identified Salmo as the driver responsible, using surveillance, witness accounts, and other investigative techniques. In an apparent attempt to evade capture, Salmo spray-painted his vehicle a different color to conceal evidence. But the ruse was short-lived: detectives located the car and, during a search, discovered a handgun hidden beneath the hood.
Salmo was arrested days after the incident and, according to police, admitted responsibility for the hit-and-run. At a bail review hearing in Upper Marlboro, District Court Judge Katina Steuart ordered him held without bond. His trial is scheduled for November 17, 2025, with a subsequent bail review set for September 25. The charges against him are extensive and serious, including second-degree assault, causing life-threatening injury while operating a vehicle, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, unlawful assembly, riot, altering physical evidence, and obstructing and hindering a police officer. Additional charges may still be filed as the investigation continues.
Police Chief George Nader did not mince words when describing the dangers of these events. “We know these illegal vehicle takeovers may seem harmless to some, but the fact is, they can be dangerous,” Nader said in a statement cited by Fox News and Breitbart News. “In this case, a young woman suffered serious injuries. We’ve also investigated a fatal shooting at a car takeover in recent years.” The chief’s warning is not hyperbole. In addition to the risk of injury from vehicles, these gatherings have, in the past, been linked to gun violence, further complicating the job of law enforcement.
Residents and business owners in the area expressed a mix of shock and frustration. “I don’t know how people can stay safe doing that,” said Joshua Vega, who works near the site of the takeover, in an interview with DC News Now. “There’s hundreds of people, so easy to get hit, cause accidents, maybe even get killed.” Another local, after viewing the police’s aerial footage, remarked, “It looks cool, but the fact that somebody got really injured—it raises alarms. I’m not quite sure what to make of it.”
For police, the events present a unique challenge. Illegal car takeovers are not only dangerous but also difficult to prevent, as they are often organized and publicized through social media, with locations kept secret until the last minute. The gatherings can draw large crowds and disrupt entire neighborhoods, making them a public safety concern. To combat the trend, Prince George’s County Crime Solvers is offering rewards of up to $500 for information about illegal vehicle takeovers before they occur. Tips can be submitted anonymously online, via the P3 Tips mobile app, or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS.
The September 14 incident has not only brought renewed scrutiny to the issue of illegal car meets but has also become a flashpoint in Maryland’s broader political debate over crime. The release of the dramatic aerial footage coincided with a war of words between Governor Wes Moore and President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Moore’s record on public safety. In an August post on Truth Social, Trump took aim at Moore and the state’s crime rates, writing, “Governor Wes Moore of Maryland has asked, in a rather nasty and provocative tone, that I ‘walk the streets of Maryland’ with him. I assume he is talking about out of control, crime ridden, Baltimore? As President, I would much prefer that he clean up his Crime disaster before I go there for a ‘walk.’ Wes Moore’s record on Crime is a very bad one.” Trump went on to claim, “After only one week, there is NO CRIME AND NO MURDER IN DC! When it is like that in Baltimore, I will proudly ‘walk the streets’ with the failing, because of Crime, Governor of Maryland. P.S. Baltimore is ranked the 4th WORST CITY IN THE NATION IN CRIME & MURDER. Stop talking and get to work, Wes.”
The political sparring has only heightened the sense of urgency around addressing public safety concerns. While some argue that more aggressive policing and tougher penalties are needed, others caution that community engagement and prevention programs are just as important. The reality, as the September 14 takeover shows, is that the dangers are not abstract. “These may seem harmless to some, but the fact is, they can be dangerous,” Chief Nader reiterated, a sentiment echoed by many in the community.
As the investigation into the Landover incident continues, police hope that the publicity surrounding Salmo’s arrest and the release of dramatic video footage will serve as a deterrent to others considering participating in illegal car takeovers. They urge anyone with information about planned events to come forward, stressing that anonymity is guaranteed and that even small tips can make a difference.
The case against Naef Salmo is now moving through the courts, with the community watching closely. For the young woman injured in the chaos, the road to recovery continues. For Prince George’s County, the challenge of preventing future tragedies at illegal car meets remains as urgent as ever.
