A police officer was injured and a suspect was killed after a burglary turned into a hostage situation in Baltimore.
Police were called to a burglary in the 6200 block of Park Heights Avenue in the northwest part of the city just before noon Tuesday and were met with gunfire from inside the home, Police Commissioner Richard Worley said during a press conference. The home was near a synagogue in the city.
Cops took cover, but a 36-year-old officer who had been with the department for 13 years was shot in the leg. A tourniquet was applied before he was taken to the Shock Trauma Center, where he was “awake” and “stable,” his doctor, Thomas M. Scalea, said.
A female victim jumped from the window of the home attempting to flee the hostage situation. She was taken to the hospital, Worley said.
“After that person jumped out the window, the suspect appeared at the window with a gun to the head of another individual, a family member,” Worley said. It was not immediately clear if both hostages were related to the suspect.
SWAT officers quickly arrived at the home, and a sniper shot the suspect, who was pronounced dead.
The SWAT team later cleared the home and found a gun, Worley said.
Worley said the second victim in the home, the relative of the suspect, was also taken to the hospital for evaluation, though authorities do not believe she was injured.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott expressed his gratitude that there were not more injuries related to the incident.
“We’re just so thankful that the officer and any other folks in the neighborhood were not severely harmed,” Scott said. “Our thoughts are with him and his family — and even the family of the deceased.”
“We are thankful to our BPD officers for bravely responding in the way that they did today, and that they do each and every day. They were able to get this situation under control quickly,” Scott added.
Scott noted that the officer was “in great spirits” at the hospital.
While the shooting unfolded near at least one synagogue, police told Fox News Digital in an email that the shooting location “was NOT at a synagogue or religious institution.”
As the incident unfolded, police radio indicated a “Signal 13,” meaning an officer was in distress.
Aerial footage from WBAL-TV 11 showed a large police presence in the northwest portion of the city, including armored cars and dozens of officers patrolling the streets near the scene. Several roads were closed, and police urged people to stay away from the area.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown wrote on X that the state investigators with the Independent Investigations Division were at the scene.
Gov. Wes Moore also said he was briefed on the shooting, writing on social media: “Dawn and I are praying for their recovery and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts.”
“We have been in close contact with the Baltimore Police Department and I have offered any state support that they may need,” Moore said. “I am grateful for the work done by our brave law enforcement officers and medical professionals to ensure that our communities are safe.”
