COLUMBIA, Md. — A tragic shooting outside a newly built apartment complex marks the fourth officer-involved fatality in Maryland this year.
Last week, the Baltimore City police were involved in the shooting death of 37-year-old Dwight Hawkins outside a liquor store.
The incident on Sunday occurred just steps from the entrance of Patuxent Commons, an apartment building designed to offer “safe, affordable, and inclusive living spaces” for individuals with disabilities. Notably, 25% of the apartments are dedicated to adults with disabilities.
This housing initiative is a collaboration between the Mission First Housing Group and the Autism Society of Maryland, and it just opened its doors a few months ago.
In a joint statement to WMAR-2 News, the organizations expressed, “We are heartbroken over this loss. This is an incredibly tragic incident, and we have reached out to the family to extend our deepest condolences and support.”
Just after midnight on Sunday, a resident made a 911 call indicating that he was contemplating self-harm. Unfortunately, within minutes, this distressing situation escalated fatally.
Upon arriving at the scene, Howard County police were unable to locate the individual within the building. A short time later, around 12:22 a.m., as they returned to the parking lot, officers encountered a man wielding a knife. According to investigators, he approached the officers despite “multiple commands” to drop the weapon.
Three officers fired their weapons, resulting in the man’s death. A neighboring resident reported hearing about five gunshots during the incident.
“Columbia is such a lovely community, and it’s hard to fathom how something like this could happen to someone who might not have been in the right state of mind,” shared a neighbor who preferred to remain anonymous.
This individual also questioned why non-lethal measures were not employed. “In a situation like this, my instinct would have been to use a taser first. But it seems the officer might have felt threatened, which is why they opted for a firearm,” the neighbor reflected.
According to HCPD’s use-of-force policy, “[o]fficers are trained to use force only when absolutely necessary for safety, and to cease immediately once the threat subsides. Deadly force is permissible only when an officer’s life or the lives of others are imminently at risk.”
Howard County
Many long-time residents expressed their shock at such an incident occurring in their neighborhood. One local, Aber, stated, “I was truly surprised. It’s upsetting to hear that this happened. I wonder why a mental health team wasn’t deployed along with the officers.”
The three officers involved have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy. Investigations by the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) will ascertain whether the shooting was justified. The identity of the deceased man has yet to be revealed.
“This situation absolutely requires a thorough investigation,” the anonymous neighbor urged.
Both Mission First and AUSOM have prioritized supporting residents and staff who are grappling with shock, grief, and trauma. Support staff were on-site following the incident, and grief counselors are scheduled to be available in the community on Monday, March 1, to address concerns and provide assistance.
