On Dec. 19, 2007, Officer Christopher Shane Nicholson, 25, of the Smithsburg (Md.) Police Department (SPD), was fatally shot while responding to assist members of the Washington County (Md.) Sheriff’s Office at a call involving reports a man had just murdered his girlfriend. Nicholson parked a short distance away from the home to wait for additional units. The suspect drove toward Nicholson and opened fire as he pulled even to the officer’s door. A rifle slug struck Nicholson in the chest, penetrating his vest. He returned fire, emptying his service weapon into the suspect’s car. Nicholson was flown to a hospital, where he died.
The suspect fled into a nearby cemetery, where he engaged members of a special-response team in a shootout. The man was wounded, taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder in Nicholson’s death and second-degree murder in his girlfriend’s slaying.
Nicholson had served with the SPD for just over one year and had previously served with the Maryland Division of Correction. He is survived by his mother, father and girlfriend.
This information was provided by the Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America’s fallen law enforcement officers. For more information on this incident, other line-of-duty death reports and law enforcement memorials, visit www.odmp.org.
