BALTIMORE — A chaotic scene unfolded in northeast Baltimore Thursday afternoon after a police-involved shooting left one man in critical condition. The incident occurred just after 12:15 p.m. in the vicinity of the Erdman Shopping Center, a busy hub located near local community resources, including a library and a childcare facility.
According to the Baltimore Police Department, the encounter began as a routine interaction when an officer assigned to a crime suppression detail approached a man near the entrance of the shopping center. The situation took a violent turn when the individual decided to flee the scene on foot.
Baltimore Police Chief of Patrol Col. Ryan Lee stated that as the man ran from the officer, he produced a firearm and pointed it toward the pursuing officer. Fearing for his life, the officer discharged his weapon multiple times, striking the suspect. While the exact number of rounds fired remains under investigation, officials confirmed that a semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the scene. It is not yet clear whether the suspect managed to fire his own weapon during the confrontation.
Responding officers immediately rendered emergency medical aid to the man before he was transported to a local hospital. As of Thursday evening, he remained in critical condition. His identity has not yet been released to the public.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting to address the community, expressing deep concern over the proximity of the violence to vulnerable residents.
“This is a traumatic incident for this neighborhood,” Mayor Scott said during a press briefing. “We will not have individuals willingly walking around carrying firearms and pulling a firearm out in a place which is right next to a library, right next to a child care center, where there could have been children or elderly there.”
Chief Lee emphasized that preliminary evidence supports the officer’s actions, stating that investigators have already reviewed body-worn camera footage that corroborates the account of the suspect brandishing a weapon.
“We don’t know why the individual chose to flee,” Lee said. “What we are certain [of is] that the individual turned around, pointed a firearm at the officer, and the officer responded in a manner to protect his own life.”
The shooting is currently being handled by the Special Investigations Response Team, which is standard procedure for all police-involved shootings in the city. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement is mobilizing to provide support and resources to the community affected by the midday violence.
As the investigation continues, authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the event or who has relevant information to come forward. The officer involved in the shooting will remain on administrative duty pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
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