Baltimore Officers Discharge 70 Rounds at Suspect During Pursuit

Six officers from the Baltimore Police Department discharged a total of 70 rounds at a man during an encounter that followed an 18-minute chase. The incident resulted in the death of 42-year-old Maurice Daniels from Millersville, who succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital early Sunday morning.

On Friday, officials released body camera footage detailing the events leading up to the shooting. The video shows police surrounding a Dodge minivan, which they suspected had been involved in a carjacking incident in Baltimore County.

During the encounter, Daniels briefly exited the vehicle but then returned inside. Officers instructed him to raise his hands, which he initially did. However, as an officer prepared to break the driver’s side window, Daniels appeared to lower his right hand toward his midsection, prompting the officers to open fire.

After the shooting, Daniels was found motionless in the driver’s seat of the minivan, which was marked by numerous bullet holes. Officers provided immediate assistance until medics arrived to transport him to the hospital.

Police Commissioner Richard Worley reported that an officer retrieved a BB gun from the vehicle, which he claimed was taken from Daniels' hand. This officer did not fire his weapon and has since been interviewed by investigators. The other officers involved in the shooting are currently on administrative leave while the incident is being reviewed.

The BB gun was described as a replica of a Colt 1911 and lacked distinguishing features such as an orange tip, making it appear similar to a real firearm. Worley acknowledged the concerning nature of the shooting but defended the officers' actions, citing the high-stress situation they faced.

Both the Baltimore Police’s internal affairs division and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division are conducting investigations into the shooting, which is standard procedure for all police-related fatalities in the state.

Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).