Police Shot Man Armed With Comb Who Threatened To Kill: Officials

ABERDEEN, MD — Police said a man is in critical condition after he was shot by an officer Friday in Aberdeen. He was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where authorities said he was undergoing surgery Friday afternoon.

Police said the man — identified Friday evening as Tyler J. Winkler, 23 — had threatened to kill one person at the property and charged officers responding to the call for help while armed with a weapon, according to Lt. Will Reiber of the Aberdeen Police Department.

Police responded to the 100 block of Hamilton Place at 10:36 a.m. for a report of a person who went into the property management office at Affinity Old Post Apartments and threatened to kill an employee, Reiber said.

Winkler then went into the courtyard adjacent to the leasing office and made racially charged remarks toward a resident, prompting the person to retreat into their residence, Reiber said.

Multiple people called police and said that the man had a knife or weapon with an edge, authorities said.

The first arriving officer radioed that the suspect appeared to be standing in the courtyard under the influence of something and was armed with a knife, Reiber said, and the officer asked for backup including a police officer with a Taser. Other officers arrived, and they attempted to get the suspect to drop his weapon.

"All verbal commands were fruitless, and ultimately one officer deployed a Taser at the suspect, who they believed was armed with a weapon," Reiber said. "The Taser did not have effect. At the deployment of the Taser, the suspect then charged the officers. One officer, in fear for his life, fired shots at the individual, striking the individual several times."

Police said that Winkler had lunged at the officer with his hand above his shoulder, holding what appeared to be a sharp-edged weapon.

Winkler fell to the ground, and officers from the Aberdeen Police Department rendered medical aid until the man was airlifted by Maryland State Police helicopter to shock trauma, Reiber said.

"I want to emphasize our officers exercised all options prior to firing," Reiber said.

The officer who fired the shots has been placed on administrative duty, which is standard procedure, pending an investigation, according to Reiber.

Winkler remained in critical condition Friday night.

Based on the preliminary investigation, authorities said they determined that the weapon Winkler had been holding was a sharp-ended hair comb.

"Winkler used the comb as an ad hoc 'shank' or 'shiv'-style weapon, holding the bristled end in his hand and lunging at officers with the sharp, pointed end exposed," police said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Aberdeen Police Department at 410-272-2121.

PREVIOUS REPORT: There has been an officer-involved shooting in Aberdeen Friday morning, police reported. The shooting happened before 11 a.m. in the area of Hamilton Place.

The public was asked to avoid Hamilton Place at Old Post Road.

There is no risk to public safety, police said.

Officials plan to release more information at a media briefing at 1 p.m.

Photos courtesy of the Aberdeen Police Department.