WASHINGTON — Howard County police shot and killed a burglary suspect who officials say was driving a car toward officers at a traffic stop Monday.
Howard County police were in Frederick County Monday morning to assist in a multi-jurisdictional investigation into a series of ongoing burglaries when they saw a burglary in progress on Manor Drive in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Frederick County Sheriff’s Office instructed Howard County police to pull over the suspect’s vehicle.
“They actually observed individuals breaking into a home on Manor Drive in our county. They followed the individuals once they left the home, called us and asked us how we wanted to proceed,” said Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Maj. Tim Clarke. “We didn’t have any cars in the area we advised them to go ahead and make the traffic stop.”
When police attempted to stop the suspect’s vehicle, the suspect rammed the car into a Howard County cruiser on Penn Shop Road near Route 27. The suspect then drove the car toward officers who were out of their vehicles.
Two Howard County police shot at the suspect, who later died. Another person was taken into custody, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office tweeted. No officers were injured in the incident.
Officials have not released the name of the person shot and killed nor details about the other person taken into custody.
The two Howard County officers, who are members of a specialized unit focused on repeat offenders, have been placed on administrative leave — which is standard following police-involved shootings, said Howard County Police Chief Gary Gardner.
Penn Shop Road is closed to traffic while Frederick County Sheriff’s Office investigates. The Howard County Police Department will initiate its own internal investigation, which is standard in all police-involved shootings, Gardner said.
“It is a difficult day when there is an incident that results in the loss of life,” Gardner said in a post on Howard County Police Department’s Facebook page. “We will continue to work with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office to ensure investigators have access to all the information and assistance they need.”
Below is a map of the location near the shooting:
