TROOPER INVOLVED SHOOTING FATALLY WOUNDS CARROLL CO. WOMAN

(HAMPSTEAD, MD) – A Carroll County woman armed with a handgun who was threatening suicide was fatally wounded by a Maryland state trooper this evening after she refused repeated orders to surrender and repeatedly pointed the gun at him.

The investigation is continuing and police are still on the scene in the 4600-block of Upper Beckleysville Road, Hampstead, Md. Troopers from the Westminster Barrack were called to the home at about 5:40 p.m. today for a domestic situation between the 40-year-old woman and her sister, with whom she lived. While troopers were en route to the scene, a second call was received informing troopers the woman had armed herself with a handgun and was threatening suicide. The woman’s sister reported she and her teenaged daughter had locked themselves in an upstairs bathroom.

Two troopers, a Hampstead Police officer and a Carroll County deputy sheriff arrived at the two-story home shortly before 6:00 p.m. The preliminary investigation indicates the woman appeared at upstairs and downstairs windows repeatedly pointing the gun at the police officers. The woman refused repeated commands to drop the weapon and continued to repeatedly point the gun at the trooper. In fear for his life, the trooper fired his Department-issued .40 caliber pistol, wounding the woman.

Emergency care was immediately provided and EMS units were summoned to the scene. The woman was flown by Maryland State Police medevac helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where she was pronounced dead. No law enforcement officers were injured.

Members of the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, Westminster Barrack Criminal Investigation Section, Internal Affairs Unit, and crime scene technicians from the State Police Forensic Sciences Division are continuing the investigation at the scene. They are expected to remain at the scene until the early morning hours.

After family members have been notified and the investigation has progressed, a more detailed news release will be issued tomorrow morning that will contain identities and additional information.