*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
*August 7, 2026* *Media Contacts*:
press@oag.state.md.us
410-576-7009
*Attorney General Brown Announces No Charges Will Be Filed in the May 14, 2026 Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in the City of Baltimore*
*BALTIMORE, MD *–* *Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the Thursday, May 14, 2026, fatal police-involved shooting that occurred in the city of Baltimore, Maryland.
On May 14, 2026, at approximately 9:12 a.m., Baltimore City 911 dispatch received information that Louis Jackson was at 820 S. Caton Avenue with a firearm and that he wanted to kill himself. At approximately 9:20 a.m., Officer Sharod Watson of the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) was in his patrol vehicle at the intersection of S. Caton Avenue and Wilkens Avenue. As Officer Watson drove his patrol vehicle westbound on Wilkens Avenue, he radioed to dispatch that an individual, who was later identified as Jackson, had shot at his patrol vehicle with a small revolver. Officer Watson activated his body-worn camera, drove further down the block, and made a U-turn. He stopped his patrol vehicle and told dispatch that Jackson was coming towards him. BPD Officer Mark Rankine was near the area and responded in his patrol vehicle. Officer Watson issued multiple commands for Jackson to get on the ground and to get down. Jackson did not comply and ran towards Officer Watson while pointing a firearm in his direction. Officer Rankine arrived at the scene. Both officers discharged their service weapons, striking Jackson. Officers rendered medical aid until emergency medical services (EMS) arrived on scene. The incident was captured on body-worn cameras worn by BPD police officers and nearby surveillance cameras.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) began investigating the fatal police-involved shooting on Thursday, May 14, 2026, and concluded its investigation on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General has determined that the subject officers did not commit a crime under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute the subject officers in this case.
A copy of the IID’s detailed investigative findings and analysis of relevant legal issues can be found in its declination report [ https://oag.maryland.gov/resources-info/Documents/pdfs/IID/26-IID-009%20-%20Declination%20Report%20-%20Baltimore%20City%20(Jackson).pdf ].
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