Chester Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Charging Maryland State Trooper with a Knife

Queen Anne's County, MD - A 21-year-old Chester man is facing serious criminal charges after a confrontation with a Maryland State Police trooper ended in a shooting last week.

Preston Scott Carter, of Chester, Maryland, was arrested following the incident and charged with attempted first and second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and related assault charges. The charges came after consultation with the Queen Anne's County State's Attorney's Office. Carter is currently being held without bond at the Queen Anne's County Detention Center.

The incident began on Wednesday, April 16, 2026, at approximately 3:40 p.m. Troopers from the Centreville Barrack were called to the unit block of Sherman Way in Chester, Maryland, after a 911 caller reported a man with a knife making threats. Officers responded to what was described as an active disturbance.

When troopers arrived, they made contact with the person who had called the police. While one trooper was speaking with that individual, Carter allegedly approached her with a knife. The trooper fired her service weapon, striking Carter.

First aid was immediately given to Carter at the scene. He was then transported by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a nearby trauma center for treatment. No other injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

After receiving care at the hospital, Carter was transferred to the Queen Anne's County Detention Center. He remains there without a bond at this time.

As required by department policy, the trooper involved has been placed on administrative leave. This is standard procedure following any officer-involved shooting, regardless of the circumstances.

Two separate investigations are now underway. The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is leading the criminal investigation into the shooting. The Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit is conducting its own independent review, which is also standard procedure in cases like this.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.