(Mt. Airy, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating a police involved shooting that occurred last night in Carroll County when a domestic assault suspect was wounded by a state trooper after he ignored orders to drop the weapon he was carrying and pointed at the trooper.
Shortly after 8:30 p.m. yesterday, Maryland State Police at the Westminster Barrack received a 911 call from a woman in the 1700-block of Trestle Street, Mt. Airy, MD, who said she had just been assaulted by her boyfriend. She said her boyfriend struck her and tried repeatedly to choke her.
A state trooper responded to the scene within minutes, but remained in the parking lot of the town home development while he waited for backup to arrive. Before backup arrived, the trooper saw the suspect walk out the front door of the victim’s home, carrying what appeared to be a handgun.
Witnesses told State Police investigators the trooper repeatedly told the suspect to drop the weapon. Witnesses also said they saw the suspect point the weapon at the trooper.
In fear for his life, the trooper fired his State Police issued .40 caliber Beretta pistol at the suspect, striking him once in the leg. The trooper gave the suspect immediate first aid and summoned EMS personnel. An ambulance transported the suspect to the Carroll Hospital Center, where he remains under State Police guard.
The trooper was not injured in the incident. The female assault victim did not require transport to a hospital.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded and is conducting the investigation into the shooting, as is procedure. They are being assisted by troopers from the Westminster Barrack Criminal Investigation Section.
Troopers applied for and obtained a search warrant for the residence, which was served overnight. Maryland State Police crime scene technicians processed the scene for evidence.
The Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit is also conducting an investigation, as is procedure. Also per procedure, the trooper involved in the shooting has been placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Further information, including identities, will be detailed in a follow up news release.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
Sounds cut and dry. MSP 1- Bad guys 0. You never want to take a life or injure another as a police officer, but you do want to come home to your loved ones!
That was a kind and decent State Trooper. Had the suspect with the automatic pistol pointed it at most civilians, his leg would have been the last placed aimed for! The traing and tolerance that our Maryland and Delaware State Troopers show are far more than criminals deserve. FredG
Good job MSP !
who said the trooper was aiming for the leg, it also doesnt say where in the leg it hit him....it could be right below his waist which is close to his torso which would be considered "center mass" just like the military and police train to shoot. I know the trooper and am thankful that he was not injured and pray for a quick return concluding the investigation.
Pretty certain Trooper was not aiming at or trying to shoot suspect in the leg, unless that was the only target that was available. Officers/Troopers are trained to shoot center mass (middle of chest for civilians). Bullets don't always travel where they were intended to go. If an Officer/Trooper fires his/her weapon at Suspect, it is not being done with tolerance in mind. I'm not trying to be mean, but honestly where do you guys come up with this stuff? When we shoot it is with the intent to neutralize the threat before us. If the suspect dies in the process so be it. If suspects drops the gun and gives up then so be it, but shots are not fired with tolerance in mind.
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