ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. – Two Maryland police detectives from Anne Arundel County were shot late Wednesday night. They were pursuing a suspect during a death investigation.
County fire officials said a call was dispatched around 11:07 p.m. and two detectives were taken to Shock Trauma.
Anne Arundel County police Sgt. Jacklyn Davis said detectives were investigating a death. Earlier in the evening, police said detectives were called to the 600 block of Newfield Road, where a man was found inside a house with a gunshot wound, WBALTV reported.
During the preliminary investigation, police realized the victim’s vehicle was missing. About six hours later, the vehicle was found in the Fort Smallwood area of Baltimore.
“Detectives went to initiate a traffic stop on that suspect. That suspect fired on officers, striking a detective. He has been transported to an area hospital. He was able to break off the pursuit to get medical attention,” Davis said. “A second detective continued the pursuit of the subject, who was shooting at him, chased him into the Stoney Beach community, they exchanged gunfire again and that detective was also shot. So we have two detectives shot. Our suspect is still outstanding in the Stoney Beach community.”
Davis said the first shooting occurred right across the Baltimore City line near a Royal Farms store.
The second shooting was in the Stoney Beach community.
“Anybody in that community, look out your windows. If you see somebody in your yard give us a call. We consider him armed and dangerous. He shot two of our guys. He’s armed, he’s dangerous, and we’re out looking for him,” Davis said.
The first officer shot is in critical, but stable, condition. He was taken to an area hospital in life-threatening condition, WBALTV reported. The second officer shot is in stable condition and is recovering at the same area hospital.
The wounded officers were identified as Detective Scott Ballard, a 22-year veteran assigned to the fugitive apprehension team, and Detective Ian Preece, a 13-year veteran assigned to the homeland security investigations team.
UPDATE: A suspect connected to an early homicide case on Newfield Road is wanted after shooting two @AACOPD cops when they tried to arrest him. The cops are in stable-condition. The suspect is at large and was last seen in the Stoney Beach area. @wbaltv11 pic.twitter.com/Xt7rtToHGG
— Tre Ward (@TreWardWBAL) February 6, 2020
Chief Timothy Altomare urged the shooter to turn himself in to police.
“Every minute you stretch this out, it makes it more dangerous for my cops, and thus it makes it more dangerous for you. We need you to come and turn yourself in. We will treat you with respect to a human being. You will be safe and we will respect your rights. But you need to come in and end this lunacy before another person gets hurt.”
“We’re going to hope and pray with everything that we have that they’re going to stay that way,” Davis said.
Around 50 officers are in the area, going door-to-door to talk to residents.
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UPDATE: Police have captured the suspect. Read more.