NEWS RELEASE
City of Takoma Park Police Department
● 7500 Maple Avenue ● Takoma Park, Md 20912
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Catherine Plevy, 301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901
December 10, 2011 (10:18 p.m.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On December 10, 2011, at approximately 3:47 p.m., Takoma Park Police responded to the 6900 block of New Hampshire Avenue (Sunoco Gas Station) for the report of an assault with a knife in progress. As the officers arrived at the scene, they were flagged down by citizens pointing to a red vehicle, later identified as a Ford Focus, operated by the suspect. The suspect was fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed.
Investigation at the scene revealed that the victim was filling his vehicle with gas and had left the vehicle to go inside the convenience mart at the gas station. The victim came out and observed the suspect in his vehicle and yelled at him to get out and screamed for people to call the police. The victim confronted the suspect as he was getting out of his vehicle; apparently the suspect had demanded property from the victim and the keys to his vehicle. At that time a confrontation occurred as the victim resisted and then was stabbed multiple times. The suspect then ran to his Ford Focus, which was parked approximately 10 yards away, got into his vehicle and then rammed the victim’s vehicle. He then fled the lot going northbound on New Hampshire Avenue.
Two Takoma Park officers who arrived on the scene picked up the pursuit, which began northbound on New Hampshire Avenue. The officers lost sight of the vehicle for a period of time. The female officer then saw the vehicle overturned at Riggs Road and Metzerot Road. The suspect vehicle had apparently struck three occupied vehicles and then overturned. The female officer observed the suspect fleeing from his vehicle. She pursued him on foot and, several yards away from his vehicle, she confronted him and was forced to deploy her taser which had no affect on the suspect. The suspect then charged the female officer and assaulted her and then a second Takoma Park police officer arrived demanding that the suspect stop. Fearing for the life of his fellow officer, he fired his weapon multiple times causing the suspect to fall off of the officer.
The suspect was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center where he was pronounced deceased. The victim was also transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center where he is presently undergoing surgery and is in critical condition. No names will be released at this time. Prince George’s County Police Department will follow up with the shooting and provide further information under their investigation. We will provide updates as we receive them. The two officers, who will be named tomorrow, have been placed on administrative leave, which is departmental policy. One officer is a 23 year veteran, and the other an 8 year veteran, with the Takoma Park Police Department.
The investigation is on-going.
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