Maryland attorney general investigates fatal Howard County police shooting

Maryland attorney general investigates fatal Howard County police shooting
Howard County police car photo courtesy of Howard County Police Department

LAUREL, Md. — The Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) is investigating the fatal shooting of a man by Howard County police officers during a domestic disturbance call on Saturday afternoon.

Officers responded to a residence in the 10000 block of American Pharoah Lane around 3:10 p.m. after reports of a domestic disturbance. Body camera footage revealed that officers encountered a female victim on an outside upper ledge of the home and an adult male suspect inside, armed with a long gun.

When the suspect refused repeated commands to drop the weapon, two officers discharged their firearms, police said. Upon entering the residence, officers found the suspect deceased. Investigators recovered multiple shell casings from an unidentified weapon and several firearms at the scene. Authorities have not yet determined whether the fatal injury was caused by police gunfire or the suspect’s own weapon.

Three other occupants of the residence were safely evacuated, and no officers were injured during the incident, according to police.

Under Maryland law, the IID has taken over the investigation and will release further updates as the case progresses. All inquiries are being directed to the division.