MGM National Harbor Ends Free Parking After Fatal Garage Shooting

MGM National Harbor is ending its free parking policy following two fatal shootings in its parking garage over the past two years.

Last Thursday (June 25), police say 33-year-old Christopher Austin Jr., of Alexandria, Va., was shot and killed in a fit of road rage, with 36-year-old Tyrell Hairston of Accokeek, Md., as the shooter. Hairston turned himself in about 20 minutes after the shooting, claiming his actions were in self-defense.

The fatal shooting came only a little more than two years after a 37-year-old Washington man was gunned down inside the MGM parking garage at 4:50 in the morning in May 2024. The shooter, Dayon Neal, of no fixed address, managed to avoid arrest for two years until he was apprehended by the US Marshals Service last month.

Since its opening in December 2016, MGM National Harbor has provided complimentary self-parking. But with another deadly shooting, the casino is taking steps to thwart criminals from entering.

MGM Parking Toll

Beginning Monday, July 13, MGM National Harbor says parking will cost $15 per day. However, anyone with an MGM Rewards loyalty card will continue to receive free self-parking. Rewards members in the Gold, Platinum, and NOIR tiers receive complimentary valet parking.

The MGM National Harbor parking garage features 5,000 parking spaces in the self-park garage.

“Beginning Monday, July 13, 2026, MGM National Harbor will introduce self-parking fees for non-members while continuing to offer free self-parking to all MGM Rewards members. MGM Rewards is free to join and offers benefits including complimentary parking, exclusive discounts, special offers, entertainment perks, and more,” the casino said in a release.

Many locals aren’t thrilled about the parking fee rollout. On PGCNTY, an online social media news outlet covering Prince George’s County, many expressed their frustrations.

“You already don’t get free drinks. Now, they want you to pay to park,” read one comment. “That’s wild. Any barrier to get people to gamble will undoubtedly affect revenue,” read another.

Some, however, said change was needed to better protect against crime.

“Just sign up for the MGM Rewards. If you’re going to spend your money there anyway, you might as well get the points. They need to know who’s coming in and out of there,” read the comment.  

Bond Denied

Maryland District Court Judge Clayton Aarons denied bond for Hairston, rejecting his attorney’s claims of self-defense.

“My client was at MGM and essentially thought that the alleged victim in this case had a firearm and his life was in danger, and he acted accordingly,” said defense attorney Hassan Ahmad.

Prosecutors, however, presented evidence allegedly showing video surveillance of the encounter, prompting Aarons to deny bail.

Hairston is facing four felony charges, including murder in the first and second degree.