A Landover man was shot and killed by a Prince George's County police officer after allegedly pulling a gun on the officer Saturday night.
Rodney Edwards, 35, was shot by a police officer about 9 p.m. in the 7500 block of Greenleaf Road in Palmer Park.
Julie Parker, director of public affairs for Prince George's police, stated via Twitter that the officer pulled his vehicle over and offered to help Edwards, who was lying on the ground, to his feet. Parker then tweeted that Edwards pulled a gun, forcing the officer to fire his own weapon.
Members of Edwards's family who spoke to News4's Derrick Ward stated that Edwards was waving good-bye to his friend, who had just dropped the intoxicated man off, when the officer drove up in an unmarked van. Relatives said they don't believe Edwards was armed because he didn't carry a gun.
Police said the officer was en route to another assignment from a Toys for Tots event, which necessitated his use of the van.
Edwards, a father of three, had lost the use of one of his hands and one of his feet in a multi-car accident during the 1980s.
Edwards was the eighth person shot and killed by Prince George's County police in 2011.
