On April 13, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred Jan. 20 in Southeast Baltimore.
Preliminary investigations revealed that at approximately 9:14 p.m., Baltimore Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a 911 call regarding an armed gunman making threats on the 6800 block of Bank Street.
The caller identified the individual as Jamarl Muse, and told investigators Muse was armed with a .357-caliber revolver. He described Muse as a Black man wearing black jeans and a face mask, and claimed he saw Muse leaving the area on a white bicycle.
Shortly after, a responding officer in a marked patrol vehicle observed an individual matching the description on the 6500 block of Eastern Avenue.
The officer activated his emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the individual. Muse failed to comply and fled, attempting to evade officers by traveling through parking lots and onto a nearby on-ramp for Interstate 95.
Several officers exited their vehicles and pursued Muse on foot. The first responding officer to reach Muse took him to the ground, where a struggle ensued as officers attempted to gain control. During the struggle, Muse produced a handgun from his clothing and discharged it.
Officers immediately disengaged to create distance. At that time, two officers discharged their service weapons, striking Muse. Officers rendered emergency medical aid until emergency medical services arrived.
Muse was pronounced dead at the scene, and a handgun was recovered near him. No officers were injured during the incident.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) began investigating the fatal police-involved shooting the same day, and concluded its investigation last Tuesday, April 7.
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.
