In an incident that unfolded on Tuesday afternoon, Baltimore police officers shot and killed a man who pointed a gun at them following a foot pursuit. The encounter took place in southwest Baltimore, an area known for frequent gun violence. Police Commissioner Richard Worley stated that officers attempted to stop the man, who they believed to be armed, but he fled. During the chase, the man drew a weapon, and an officer tried to tackle him. When the man pointed his gun at the officers, they opened fire, resulting in his death.
One officer sustained minor injuries during the incident, initially believed to be a gunshot wound, but later determined otherwise. The identity of the deceased individual has not been released. It is yet to be determined how many officers fired their weapons or if the armed man discharged his handgun.
The officers involved in the incident are part of the Baltimore Police Department’s District Action Team, a specialized unit focused on proactive patrols in high-violence areas of the city. Although they do not wear traditional uniforms, their vests clearly identify them as police.
This incident drew attention to the District Action Team, as a similar shooting occurred earlier this year under comparable circumstances, leaving a teenager critically injured. In that case, officers attempted to stop the teenager, believing he was armed. He fled, holding a gun, and an officer shot him from behind. Commissioner Worley defended the officers’ actions in both cases, emphasizing their efforts to prevent violence and their repeated orders for the suspects to drop their weapons.
Department policy permits officers to use deadly force when they believe it is immediately necessary to protect another officer or civilian from imminent danger. In the case of a fleeing suspect, deadly force can be utilized to prevent their escape under specific circumstances.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott acknowledged the impact such incidents have on the community and expressed gratitude to the city’s police officers. However, the Baltimore Police Department has faced criticism in recent years, leading to significant reform measures under a federal consent decree established in 2017. The consent decree aims to eliminate unconstitutional policing practices and improve community trust, following a Department of Justice investigation triggered by the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in 2015.
Despite the ongoing reform efforts, the Gun Trace Task Force scandal exposed abuse and corruption within an elite plainclothes unit. However, a recent assessment indicated that officers are now significantly less likely to use force against the public compared to before the implementation of the consent decree.
As the investigation into this shooting is still in its early stages, the incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by the Baltimore community and the ongoing efforts to reform the city’s police department.
