Tshamba held without bond; attorney begins defense
The Baltimore police officer charged with first-degree murder in the off-duty shooting an unarmed man outside a Mount Vernon club was ordered held without bond Monday morning as his attorney began hitting back at the accusations, saying the officer "did what he had to do."
Addressing the incident for the first time, a defense attorney for Officer Gahiji A. Tshamba, 36, described his client as a decorated veteran who has been devastated by the allegations. He said the June 5 killing of Tyrone Brown came after the officer put himself on duty to respond to a sexual assault.
Brown, a 32-year-old former Marine from East Baltimore, was shot 12 times after Tshamba fired 13 rounds from his service weapon, according to charging documents. Police have previously said Brown was struck nine times.
"A police officer in fear for his life has to do what he has to do," attorney Adam Sean Cohen told reporters outside Central Booking. "If one shot doesn't work, if two shots don't work … you fire until the threat is gone."
Prosecutor David Chiu called Tshamba an "extreme risk to public safety."
"The last time I checked, I don't believe its police policy to shoot an unarmed suspect, particularly surrounded by patrons leaving a bar area," Chiu said.
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Categories: Breaking news, Gahiji Tshamba, Police shootings
Comments
See it is ideas like that coming out of his attorney's mouth is why no one respects the Baltimore City Police Department. There is no reason in the world to unload 12 rounds in an unarmed man over touching a woman's rear end.
Posted by: g | June 14, 2010 1:07 PM
That's the defense? He put himself on duty to respond to a sexual assault? Of his girlfriend? in a crowed bar? and to "neutralize" the threat of an unarmed man it was necessary to open fire on him 13 times? That must've been the finest ass in the world, hope it was worth it officer, because the next ass you are going to be defending for the next 40 years will be your own.
Posted by: Jim | June 14, 2010 3:23 PM
It's Cohen's job to defend his client. We all know that he is grandstanding with the silly comment of "If one shot doesn't work, if two shots don't work … you fire until the threat is gone."
There was no threat that could not have been handled by the sober officers that were in the vicinity.
Posted by: Dana LaRocca | June 14, 2010 8:46 PM
I UNDERSTAND THE DEFENSE ATTY. COMMENTS. BUT HE SHOULD KNOW HOW STUPID IT SOUNDS WHEN AN UNARMED MAN IS SHOT 12 TIMES. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY HE CAN JUSTIFY HIS CLIENTS ACTIONS. THE REAL FAULT LIES WITH THE BALTIMORE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR NOT FIRING HIM, WHEN HE WAS INTOXICATED CHASING A CAR, AFTER THE DRIVER/RIDERS SAID SOMETHING TO HIM THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE, HE SHOT ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE FOOT. WAS ON SUSPENDED FOR DRINKING WHILE CARRYING HIS WEAPON OFF-DUTY. THIS WHY HE PROBABLY TAUGHT THAT HE COULD GET AWAY WITH THIS CRIME. HE'S A BEALEFELD THUG. FROM GANG BEALEFELD. THE LARGEST GANG IN BALTIMORE CITY "THEY MUST BE STOPPED"
Posted by: UNCLEOLLIE41 | June 15, 2010 11:45 AM
I had a man come up from behind me once and touch my back end while I was walking the streets of Philadelphia.
I turned to him and spoke: "Do that again and I will arrange for you to spend the night in jail. You interested?"
The guy looked at me sort of sheepishly and said, "Oh, you must be from New Jersey." (Go figure.)
Both of us got to go home that night to our loved ones.
Police departments might do better if they hired more communicators, fewer fighters.
Let's use our adult words, rather than our weapons.
Posted by: Linda S. Wallace | June 15, 2010 6:52 PM
What do you mean, "Former Marine?" There is no such thing, as anyone who knows Marines will stipulate. As for a Police Officer from Baltimore shooting an unarmed man with his arms in the air multiple times . . . Go figure.
Posted by: Mary Valdez | June 16, 2010 10:23 AM