CECIL CO. MAN FATALLY WOUNDED AFTER THREATENING TROOPERS WITH A SWORD

(ELKTON, MD) – A Cecil County man was fatally wounded last night after he called troopers to his apartment for a dispute with a neighbor and then confronted them with swords and what appeared to be a rifle and a handgun.

The deceased is identified as Jason E. Honaker, 25, of the 700-block of West Pulaski Highway, Elkton, Md. He was pronounced dead at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m. yesterday, a call was received at the Maryland State Police North East Barrack from a man who identified himself has Jason Honaker. He told the duty officer that police needed to respond to his location or he was going to kill his neighbor.

Trooper First Class Matthew Telep and Trooper Brian Schweers were dispatched and responded to Honaker’s apartment. Honaker’s girlfriend met troopers at the door and told them Honaker was armed with ‘swords and guns’ and he was intoxicated. She directed troopers to a back bedroom where she said Honaker was located.

The troopers immediately began giving verbal orders to Honaker and telling him to come out of the bedroom. When he emerged, Honaker was carrying a sword that was about two feet long and what appeared to be a rifle. Troopers also saw that Honaker was wearing another sword and had what appeared to be a handgun tucked into his waistband.

Troopers ordered Honaker to drop the weapons he was carrying and put his hands in the air. The preliminary investigation indicates Honaker threw the sword and what appeared to be the rifle he was carrying down toward the troopers, who were less than ten feet from him. Troopers continued to tell Honaker to put his hands in the air and not to touch the other weapons.

Honaker ignored those commands and pulled the shorter sword, described as a curved, martial arts-type sword, about 18 inches long. In fear for his life and the life of his fellow trooper, TFC Telep fired his State Police issued .40 caliber Beretta pistol, striking Honaker.

Troopers immediately summoned emergency medical assistance to the scene. Honaker was transported by ambulance to Christiana hospital where he underwent surgery, but later died.

Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the North East Barrack Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to conduct an investigation that included the service of a search warrant at the apartment for the collection of evidence. Investigators and crime scene technicians recovered the two swords, and several other edged-weapons. The guns that appeared to be a rifle and handgun were determined to be an air rifle and a BB pistol that closely resembled a real handgun.

Honaker’s girlfriend, who is more than eight months pregnant, told investigators Honaker began drinking vodka late that afternoon and had consumed a pint. Investigators also learned Honaker had been arrested on December 23, 2010, for assaulting his girlfriend and she had obtained an interim protective order against him. She failed to appear for a hearing on the protective order and the case was dismissed.

The neighbor in the apartment next to Honaker’s told investigators he had gone to Honaker’s apartment and asked him to turn down his loud music. Honaker then came to his apartment and told him if he called the police, it would ‘take seven officers to take him down.’ The neighbor told Honaker he wasn’t calling the police, he just wanted him to turn his music down. He described Honaker as ‘extremely intoxicated’ and said he had to assist him in standing upright when he was talking to him.

Investigators from the Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit also responded to the scene and will conduct an administrative investigation, as they do in every police-involved shooting. When the investigation by the State Police Homicide Unit is complete, it will be presented to the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office for review, which is also procedure.

TFC Telep is a four year veteran of the Maryland State Police and Trooper Schweers has been a trooper for two and one-half years. Both are assigned to uniform road patrol duties at the North East Barrack. Per procedure, both troopers have been placed on routine administrative leave as the investigation continues.