Baltimore County police are searching for at least one armed suspect following an altercation in Perry Hall that left a police officer dead on Monday afternoon.
Corp. Shawn Vinson, a spokesman for the Baltimore County Police Department, said at a press conference Monday evening that the officer encountered at least one suspect during a traffic stop involving a “suspicious vehicle” on Linwen Way in Nottingham just before 2 p.m. An altercation ensued–“What exactly happened, we’re not sure yet,” Vinson said–after which the officer was taken to MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center.
She was pronounced dead at 2:50 p.m., Vinson said.
Councilman David Marks said in a Facebook post that police informed him the officer was shot “while investigating suspicious activity.” Gov. Larry Hogan tweeted his condolences–well before police confirmed she had been killed, notably–for the female officer’s family, indicating she had passed away from her injuries.
The suspect who committed this terrible crime remains at large, and @MDSP are assisting Baltimore County Police in their search. The state stands ready to provide any and all resources necessary to capture this individual and bring them to justice.
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 21, 2018
Vinson said he could not confirm her injuries or cause of death, and said that probably won’t happen until an autopsy has been performed.
“We think it’s crucial to assist in the prosecution of this case, and we don’t want to hamper that prosecution or the subsequent investigation,” he said, explaining his reluctance to share additional details.
A witness described a chaotic ordeal to WBAL-TV, saying the officer drew her gun after pulling over the vehicle, after which the car accelerated, a gunshot rang out and the driver ran over the officer. A man who called into Fox45’s live broadcast and said his son witnessed the incident offered a similar account.
Police are still searching for at least one armed suspect. The department said residents nearby should shelter in place, and drivers should avoid a roughly 1.7-mile stretch of Belair Road from Forge Road to Ebenezer Road while police search the area.
Residents in the area of Belair Road and Klausmeier Road should shelter in place due to ongoing #BCoPD incident. Motorists should avoid Belair Road from Forge Road to Ebenezer Road. #BCoPD is searching for an armed suspect. More info when available. ^NL
— BACO Public Safety (@BACOPoliceFire) May 21, 2018
Marks also said schools nearby were locked down. Police specified that three schools–Perry Hall Elementary, Seven Oaks Elementary and Gunpowder Elementary–were “being held over on alert status due to active police activity in the area,” and said students were not being dismissed.
Vinson advised parents to contact school administrators for instructions on how to pick up their children.
This story has been updated.
Ethan McLeod
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