Maryland Teen Who Helped Steal Woman’s Car At Waldorf Food Lion, Fled Into DC, Learns His Fate

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A quick grocery run turned into a nightmare for a Maryland woman when two teens — one with a gun — pounced in broad daylight.

The teen who teamed up with an armed accomplice to carjack a woman outside a Waldorf Food Lion before leading police on a multi-jurisdiction chase into DC has been sentenced to more than a decade behind bars, according to the Charles County State's Attorney's Office.

A judge sentenced 19-year-old Nasir Maurice Cooper to 12 years in prison for conspiracy to commit carjacking, authorities announced.

Upon release, Cooper will serve five years of supervised probation — and if he violates it, he could be hit with another eight years behind bars.

Cooper pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 22.

According to court documents, it all began on the morning of June 9, 2024, when Charles County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Food Lion on Old Washington Road in Waldorf for a reported carjacking.

The victim told officers that two men approached her outside the store and tried to snatch her purse. 

A struggle broke out, and one of the suspects — later identified as Steven Nathaniel Franklin — pulled a gun and threatened to shoot her, while Cooper stood by the victim’s vehicle.

Fearing for her life, the woman handed over her purse and ran inside for help.

Investigators said Franklin and Cooper then jumped into her car and sped off.

Detectives later learned the two men had been looking at a Mercedes for sale nearby earlier that day, where Franklin’s fingerprints were found. 

That clue led police straight to him.

The victim’s vehicle was recovered later in Prince George’s County, but when police tried to stop it, the pair took off — crossing into Washington, DC, before crashing out and running. 

Both suspects were caught soon after.

At the time of his arrest, Cooper was wearing the same shoes described by the victim and carrying a black Nike face mask matching her account. 

Investigators also learned the suspects had used her stolen debit and credit cards to make purchases at multiple stores.

Franklin pleaded guilty in May to armed carjacking and wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun.

When he is released, Franklin will be on supervised probation for five years. If he were to violate the terms of that probation, he will face an additional eight years in prison.