A suspect has been killed and a Baltimore police officer injured after a burglary call escalated into a hostage standoff at a home in the city’s Glen neighbourhood on Tuesday morning, officials said. Police were called to a residence in the 6200 block of Park Heights Avenue at about 11:50 am, where officers encountered gunfire from a suspect inside the house, according to Police Commissioner Richard Worley.
An officer was shot in the leg during the incident, forcing other officers to take cover. Police were able to apply a tourniquet at the scene before the officer was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Mayor Brandon Scott later said the officer was in “great spirits”.
Commissioner Worley said the injured officer is 36 years old and has served 13 years with the department. Dr Thomas Scalea of the Shock Trauma Center said the officer was conscious and stable.
“Kudos to his buddy for having the wherewithal to put a tourniquet on him at the scene,” he said. “He’s awake, he’s stable and currently undergoing evaluation.”
Worley said the suspect was holding a hostage and was seen several times at a window with a gun held to the person’s head.
During the standoff, a woman jumped from a window of the home while attempting to escape and was taken to a nearby hospital, officials said. A Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was called to the scene, and the suspect was later “neutralized” by a sniper officer. Police said the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene and a firearm was recovered from the house.
Officials said the suspect and the victims were believed to be related, and an investigation is ongoing to determine what led to the incident.
The Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division responded to the scene. The unit investigates use-of-force incidents and police-involved shootings across the state.
Mayor Scott said he visited the injured officer at Shock Trauma and praised police officers responding to the situation. “The brave men and women of BPD put their lives on the line every day to build a better, safer Baltimore,” he wrote on social media. “As the situation develops, our hearts are with this officer, their family, and the entire department.”
He later added: “We’re just thankful that the officer or any other folks in that neighborhood were not severely harmed. Our thoughts are with him, and his family, and even the family of the deceased.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore also said he had been briefed on the shooting and offered support from the state. “I have been briefed on the shooting in Park Heights involving a Baltimore Police Officer. Dawn and I are praying for their recovery and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts,” he said in a social media post.
State Representative Andy Harris also called for prayers for the officer. “Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and I am grateful for their courage and sacrifice,” he said.
