BALTIMORE, MD – A man was fatally shot by police officers after he brandished a firearm at them during a foot chase on Tuesday afternoon, according to authorities.
The incident occurred in a southwest Baltimore neighborhood, an area notorious for recurring gun-related violence. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley stated that the officers, while on patrol, came across a man they suspected was armed. When they attempted to apprehend him, the man fled, initiating a pursuit.
During the chase, the man allegedly drew his firearm, prompting an officer to attempt to tackle him. The situation escalated when the man reportedly aimed his gun at the officers, leading them to open fire, Commissioner Worley explained.
One officer sustained minor injuries in the incident. Initial reports suggested the officer had been shot due to the presence of blood on his clothing. However, further investigation revealed this was not the case, as stated by Worley.
The number of officers who discharged their weapons during the incident, as well as whether the man fired his handgun, remains undetermined. The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The officers involved in the incident are part of a District Action Team, a specialized unit within the Baltimore Police Department that focuses on proactive patrols in areas heavily affected by violence. Despite not wearing traditional uniforms, their vests clearly identify them as police, Worley noted.
The police department has faced criticism in the past, particularly following a similar incident earlier this year which left a teenager critically injured. In both cases, the officers were conducting proactive patrols and attempted to apprehend individuals they believed were armed. Commissioner Worley defended the officers’ actions in both instances, stating they had repeatedly instructed the man to drop his weapon before resorting to deadly force.
The Baltimore Police Department has been under a federal consent decree since 2017, mandating a series of court-ordered changes aimed at eliminating unconstitutional policing practices and improving community trust. This decree followed the discovery of longstanding patterns of excessive force, unlawful arrests, and discriminatory policing by the U.S. Justice Department.