Off-Duty Baltimore Cop Shot Suspect 4 Times: Police

LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MD — Authorities have identified the off-duty Baltimore City Police officer who shot an armed robbery suspect four times early Saturday morning, killing the man.

The Baltimore officer who fired his weapon five times has been identified as Officer John Bilheimer, an 18-year veteran who is assigned to the department’s Special Operations Section. He is currently on administrative leave.

The shooting happened about 1:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Homewood Road in Linthicum Heights. The off-duty officer told Anne Arundel County Police he was in the area when the robbery suspect approached him with a handgun. Bilheimer fired at the suspect, hitting him four times in the torso.

The suspect, identified as Edel Cato Moreland, 32, of no fixed address, reportedly ran from the scene but collapsed on the street a short distance away. Medics pronounced Moreland dead at the scene. An autopsy determined he died from the four gunshot wounds to the mid- and upper body.

Preliminary investigation corroborated the off-duty officer’s story, police said. Moreland’s gun was recovered at the scene and determined to be a realistic looking “all black toy gun resembling a revolver.”

Once the investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

Anyone with information may contact Anne Arundel County Homicide Detectives at 410-222-4731. Anonymous tips can be sent at 410-222-4700.