Two officers injured, suspect killed in overnight shooting
UPDATE: The two officers wounded in the shooting were Officer Keith Romans (shot in the face) and Officer Jordan Moore (shot in the hand), according to a law enforcement source. Both officers appear to be very new to the force - neither has any arrests in the court database prior to February 2009, meaning they've likely been on the streets for just over a year. No word yet on the victim's identity.
Baltimore police say two officers were shot during a traffic stop and are in serious but stable condition. The suspected shooter was killed by return fire.
Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the shooting happened about 12:21 a.m. Sunday. Three officers, part of the BPD's Monument Street initiative launched last year to combat a spate of violence in that area, had pulled over the suspected shooter for an unknown traffic offense and smelled marijuana. Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said the officers were taking the occupants into custody when one of the officers and the 30-year-old driver of the vehicle got into an altercation.
"The struggle quickly became so violent that the other two officers went to his assistance, and all three were trying to get that man under control," Bealefeld told WBAL Radio.
The suspect was able to break free and get back to his vehicle, where he drew a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun and opened fire, Bealefeld said. One of the officers was struck in the right cheek, with the bullet lodging in his jaw, and another was hit in the hand, nearly severing his finger, in the ensuing gun battle. The suspect was hit several times and died at the scene, Bealefeld said.
The Monument Street corridor is one of the city's areas that is both high-traffic and high-crime, and last year police deployed additional resources there after 18 people were shot at a cookout and several people were fatally shot in separate incidents.
We don't know the names of the officers or the suspect, but we'll update as we learn more. I don't have my spreadsheets with me, but if my memory serves me this is the third police-involved shooting of the year, which is behind last year's pace.
Categories: Police shootings, Southeast Baltimore
Comments
All over a small amount of marijuana. These pot laws put cops in danger so that it is harder to get a hold of a plant that has not caused a single overdose death. It is time to get rid of these ridiculous marijuana laws that put police officers in the line of fire.
Posted by: Shap | March 21, 2010 4:34 PM
This isn't about "a small amount of marijuana," it's about dangerous people roaming the streets of Baltimore. People who put us in danger. Everyone knows someone who smokes. I know that no one I know would try to take out a cop if they smelled a little bit of weed in the car. That's one less thug to deal with. Clean up the streets! I'm tired of not feeling safe while walking around my neighborhood after the sun sets.
Posted by: John | March 22, 2010 8:12 AM
Its good to hear they killed the shooter.If you shoot at a cop or anyone for a crime you deserve to die period. Its obvious the first comment is from a pothead. Its illegal plain and simple. One less criminal on the street.
Officer Keith Romans is a childhood friend of mine and I hope everything goes well for his future because of some drug dealer/user.
Posted by: todd | March 22, 2010 10:42 AM
Good Job Keith. Stay strong and i hope you bounce back to make a full recovery and get back to doing what you do.
Posted by: Fred Zais | March 23, 2010 2:15 PM
how could you say that a person should die because he shot at the police. first of all the officers should've did their job properly... how can one single individual out-muscle three officers. that was a close friend of mines... now his family has to deal with the lost of an love one because of the poor job of baltimore's so called finest.
Posted by: m,cam | March 23, 2010 7:32 PM
Yes,this was a tragic story and know one deserves to be shot at. However, a man has been killed and is missed by family and friends. I dont appreciate you talking about the decease and i'm quite sure his family doesnt. If you soooooo happy that ther shooter has been killed, keep that to yourself!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jessica Graves | March 24, 2010 9:52 AM
Did anyone really read this FYI he never made it from the car............First role of police work pull someone out of a car U handcuff them this is for the safety of the officer and the person also u are suppose to be on the force for at least 5 years before you do any special unit..........come on a year 6 mos of that was the academy people know your facts before u start shooting off at the mouth. Please he has a family too and for the commissioner lead by example if someone called your son who passed a idiot you would have a cow. So who is the uneducated one you idiot.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 31, 2010 2:47 PM