An off-duty D.C. police officer shot and killed a man accused of lunging at an officer with a knife on Crain Highway in Prince George’s County on Wednesday, according to Maryland State Police.
Maryland State Police initially responded to a crash at about 5 p.m. at Crain Highway and Village Drive, and a driver involved took off on foot, Maryland State Police said. According to two law enforcement sources, state police asked an off-duty D.C. officer for help looking for a suspect following the crash.
Shortly before 6 p.m., off-duty D.C. Lt. Daren Jones, who was in a marked police cruiser, saw the driver who ran from the earlier crash, identified as 28-year-old Ian Tilton, of Annapolis, on the road more than three miles away from the crash scene.
Jones called for assistance, and a Prince George's County officer arrived at the scene, authorities said.
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Tilton then allegedly "produced a knife and lunged at the Prince George’s County police officer," Maryland State Police said.
The Prince George’s County officer tried to shock Tilton with a stun gun, but it was not effective, authorities said. During the struggle, Jones shot Tilton with his agency-issued gun.
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Maryland State Police Aviation Command and Prince George’s County emergency medical services crews gave Tilton aid, Maryland State Police said.
Tilton was taken to a hospital in critical condition, authorities said. He did not survive.
Maryland State Police say their homicide unit is investigating the case.
While investigators believe the crash and police shooting are connected, they did not specifically say that Tilton was the driver who took off.
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No officers were injured in the crash or gunfire.
The D.C. officer is now on administrative leave, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said. His body camera was activated, she said. D.C. police and the mayor’s office initially refused to provide information.
The D.C. officer is assigned to the special operations division where he supervises K-9 teams, a law enforcement source told News4.
Dozens of police vehicles could be seen on the busy road, which is by an industrial complex and wooded area.
All northbound lanes of Crain Highway between Queen Anne Road and Trade Zone Avenue were closed for the investigation.
This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.
