Gunfire in Big Lots Parking Lot Leads to Arrest in Front Royal

A Front Royal man was arrested Tuesday following a midday gunfire incident that caused alarm near a busy shopping area, but fortunately resulted in no injuries.

On August 5, 2025, officers with the Front Royal Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the Big Lots parking lot located at 260 Remount Road. Upon arrival, police interviewed multiple witnesses who said they saw a man remove a handgun from his waistband and fire it into the air before fleeing the scene on foot.

Howard Douglas Banjoman III

Surveillance footage from nearby businesses confirmed the witness accounts, helping officers identify the suspect as Howard Douglas Banjoman III, a resident of Front Royal.

Following an active investigation, officers located Banjoman near his residence and took him into custody without incident. A search warrant was then executed at a residence on Edgemont Avenue in the 1600 block, where authorities recovered what is believed to be the firearm used in the incident.

Banjoman was transported to RSW Regional Jail and has been charged with multiple offenses, including:

• §18.2-282 – Pointing, holding, or brandishing a firearm
• §18.2-308 – Carrying a concealed firearm
• §18.2-56 – Reckless handling of firearms
• Town Code §167-2 – Discharging a firearm within town limits

The investigation remains active, and authorities have not released further details regarding motive or whether the firearm was legally owned.

Anyone with additional information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Front Royal Police Department at 540-635-2111.