Davis says investigators recovered several.223-caliber shell casings from the scene, ammunition he says could go through body armor that patrol officers wear. “They went toward trouble, as we do every day”, Davis said.
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Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis stated during a press briefing streamed online that Harper was a repeat offender with a lengthy criminal record.
In a press conference Thursday, Davis said four detectives in an unmarked auto and wearing police vests were drawn by the sounds of gunfire to an apartment complex in West Baltimore.
When they pulled into the parking lot of an apartment complex, Davis said, they saw a man armed with the AR-15-style rifle and shooting.
What Davis said he is sure of is that “it is a firearm that is out on the streets of Baltimore”.
“Based on the information we have right now, we don’t believe it was an ambush”.
Two of the officers returned fire, killing the man.
A man is dead in Baltimore after exchanging gunfire with police early today (Friday).
Thursday night’s officer-involved shooting marks the ninth time this year Baltimore police have been forced to open fire on a suspect. When he turned his fire on them, they shot the man, who retreated into the apartment building.
No one else was wounded during the shootout.
Davis identified the shooter as Dayten Ernest Harper, 33, saying he fired at officers as they arrived at the apartment complex. He had stashed the rifle, police said, in the woods behind the apartments. However, he said there is no evidence showing that Harper was connected to the plot. They were all wearing protective vests that said “police” and badges.
Officers locked down surrounding streets until they determined Harper acted alone. “It happened last night”, Davis said. Smith said it’s unclear why the man began shooting late Thursday, adding no one came forward to say they were being “shot at”.
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The FBI Baltimore office released a statement, saying, “The FBI frequently shares information with federal, state and local partners when there is a potential threat to law enforcement”. The man ran through an open vestibule in one building and to the rear, discarding his weapon behind the building and then went back into the building, where he was apprehended. But the commissioner said recent mass shootings and the targeting of police in Dallas makes this “a unique time, a challenging time”.
