Man Shot by Howard County Officers Dies of Wounds

Did not obey orders to drop weapon, according to police

A 19-year-old Maryland man who police shot eight times after he refused to drop a weapon on November 7 died of his injuries on Monday.

Howard County police discovered the teen had been carrying a pellet gun.

On November 7, officers said they confronted Jeffery Dustin Nichols in an industrial park on the 7400 block of Hi Tech Drive, after receiving reports of an armed man walking in the area.

Responding officers ordered Nichols to drop his weapon, but he refused their orders, police said.  Investigators said the pellet gun he was carrying was designed to look like a semi-automatic pistol.

Nichols was shot a total of eight times in the torso and in his arms and legs.  He was taken into custody and remained hospitalized until his death.

Howard County Police said they had encountered Nichols in prior incidents, in October and September.  In those incidents, police said Nichols called 911 saying he was in distress.  Police said in one of the incidents, when they arrived to his home in Elkridge, they said he had brandished a knife.

Police said in another encounter with Nichols, he had encouraged officers to shoot him, reportedly saying "just do it."

In the September and October incidents, police took Nichols into custody and transported him for medical treatment.

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