Baltimore Police Exchange Gunfire With Armed Suspect in West Baltimore, Man Flees

A man who had been firing a gun in the street turned and shot at Baltimore police officers early Wednesday morning on the 2800 block of Edmondson Avenue, triggering a gunfire exchange that ended with the suspect vanishing into the Mosher neighborhood on foot.

Officers responded to the West Baltimore block around 1:52 a.m. on March 18 and encountered the man actively discharging a firearm. When he spotted the officers he initially attempted to flee, then reversed course and pointed the weapon in their direction, police said. At least one officer returned fire. The suspect escaped on foot and had not been identified or taken into custody as of Wednesday.

FOX45 Baltimore reported the suspect was not struck during the exchange. The Baltimore Sun and CBS Baltimore reported police had not immediately confirmed that detail, with CBS noting it remained unclear whether the man was injured.

No officers were reported injured in the incident.

The Baltimore Police Department's Special Investigations Response Team, which handles officer-involved shootings, responded to the scene and is leading the investigation. Police have not released a physical description of the suspect and have not said how many officers discharged weapons or how many rounds were fired.

The shooting marked the latest in a recent series of confrontations between Baltimore officers and armed individuals. In late February, officers fatally shot 37-year-old Dwight Hawkins during a foot chase in the Belair-Edison neighborhood after he was seen inside a liquor store with a gun. Police Commissioner Richard Worley said Hawkins continued running with the gun in his hand before he was shot. Officials said Hawkins had a lengthy criminal record and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Anyone with information on the March 18 Edmondson Avenue incident can contact the Baltimore Police Department directly.