Attempted Murder Charge Pending in Cop Shooting: Police

A 21-year-old is being charged with attempted murder and other offenses after allegedly shooting an Aberdeen police officer in the face early Friday morning, according to the Aberdeen Police Department.

Tyler Scott Testerman, 21, surrendered to authorities at a home in Edgewood at approximately 10:25 a.m., nearly eight hours after the incident, police said.

UPDATE: Police Say Second Suspect Arrested in Aberdeen Officer Shooting

His arrest ended an hours-long manhunt in Aberdeen, where six schools were closed due to police activity and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police were enlisted to help in the search.

Related: Schools in Aberdeen Closed Amid Police Activity

Police said the shooting occurred when Officer Jason Easton was looking into a suspicious circumstance in the 500 block of Ohio Court at 2:27 a.m. on Friday.

Easton was in the backyard speaking with the man who reported the situation when he saw someone fire a shot from the tree line. Six to eight projectiles hit Easton in the face, police reported.

The injured officer was airlifted to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he was in stable condition, according to the report.

Authorities said they quickly identified the suspected shooter as Testerman, who left the scene on foot.

With assistance from law enforcement and the community, investigators ended up at a residence in the 1000 block of Waterside Court in Edgewood, police said. It was believed to be the home of Testerman’s girlfriend.

Officials surrounded the home, and as the SWAT team closed in on the residence, Testerman walked out and surrendered, according to police.

Testerman was arrested without incident and transferred from the custody of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office to the Aberdeen Police Department, where he was being questioned Friday afternoon, police reported.

Officer Easton, a 10-year veteran of the Aberdeen Police Department, was said to be undergoing surgery for his injuries.

Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Traber described the initial incident that caused the officer to respond to Ohio Court as “threats” or “messages” exchanged between two people who lived there. The nature of the incident remained under investigation Friday afternoon.

Traber said the officer was well-liked by the community, and the department hoped for a full recovery.

“He’s a great guy,” Traber said, adding that Easton and his wife have very young children.

Said Traber: “It’s a sad day for us at the police department.”

The following are a series of updates as the events unfolded over the course of several hours Friday.

UPDATE (11 a.m.)—The man suspected of shooting an Aberdeen Police officer has been taken into custody, officials say.

Tyler Scott Testerman, 21, surrendered to police in the 1000 block of Waterside Court in Edgewood, Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Trabert said at 11 a.m.

Testerman’s girlfriend lives in that area, and law enforcement tracked him there through investigation into the shooting of an officer that occurred before 3 a.m. in Aberdeen, according to Trabert.

When the Harford County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team approached the Edgewood residence at 10:25 a.m., Testerman ”came out of the house and gave himself up,” Trabert said. “The suspect is now in custody. We are safe here in Aberdeen.”

The motive is unclear, according to Trabert.

Officer Jason Easton, a 10-year veteran of the Aberdeen Police Department who was shot, is in stable condition at shock trauma, Trabert said.

The officer was hit by “about 6 projectiles in his face and forehead, [and] one we believe is in his left eye,” Trabert said. “We’ll know more after he gets out of surgery.”

Easton was shot responding to a call before 3 a.m. from a victim who was allegedly threatened, according to the chief, who said the agency was following up on the nature of the incident.

UPDATE (9:55 a.m.)—Authorities are looking for a 21-year-old man suspected of shooting and wounding a police officer in Aberdeen Friday morning, according to the Aberdeen Police Department.

The officer who was shot in the face is in stable condition at shock trauma, Aberdeen Police Sgt. Will Reiber said before 10 a.m.

The suspect—Tyler Scott Testerman, 21—is believed to have left the neighborhood after the shooting, and a manhunt is underway.

Testerman is considered armed and dangerous, according to Reiber, who said at a press conference after 9 a.m.: “Hopefully we’ll be able to bring closure to this in the next several hours.”

While the manhunt is underway, several schools are closed Friday, Harford County Public Schools reports.

• Anyone with info about Testerman’s whereabouts may call 410-272-2121. All tips are confidential.

Police say they suspect Testerman shot the officer, who was responding to a call for suspicious activity in the 500 block of Ohio Court at approximately 2:27 a.m.

The officer ”heard a ‘pop’” and sustained facial injuries, police reported in a statement about the shooting.

The 10-year veteran of the Aberdeen Police Department was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and was listed in stable condition Friday morning, according to authorities.

Before 10 a.m., he was being prepped for surgery, according to Reiber, who previously said that an operation was needed for projectiles in the officer’s eye.

Related: Aberdeen Schools Closed Due to Police Activity

Previous Report (6 a.m.)

An Aberdeen police officer has been shot and is in stable condition, according to the Aberdeen Police Department.

Detectives are tracking down leads to identify a suspect, police said before 6 a.m. Friday.

The officer, who was working the midnight shift, was injured while responding to a call for suspicious activity Friday morning, according to police.

The officer ”heard a ‘pop’” and sustained facial injuries, police reported in a statement about the shooting.

Police said the officer was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and was listed in stable condition Friday morning.

The officer, who has not been identified, is a 10-year veteran of the Aberdeen Police Department, according to authorities.

Five schools in Aberdeen were opening later than planned Friday morning as a result of police activity in the area.

Related: Aberdeen Schools Delayed Due to Police Activity