Suspect In Custody After Manhunt, 8-Hour Standoff Following Shooting Of 2 MD Officers

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A lengthy manhunt of a suspect wanted for shooting two police officers ended after an eight-hour standoff in a wooded area of Harford County around 5:45 a.m. Friday.

Schools were briefly put on lockdown while officers with the Baltimore County Police, Maryland State Police, Harford County Sheriff's Office, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms worked to capture 24-year-old David Emory Linthicum.

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler spoke outside the sheriff's office Friday morning and said everyone is "safer with this individual in custody where he belongs."

"I could not be more proud of our deputies. First and foremost, they professionally handled this incident and the combined actions, efforts and partnership of all agencies involved was expert. Kudos to all of them," Gahler said.

On Feb. 8, Baltimore County Police responded to a call about a person in distress at a home on Sherwood Road in Cockeysville. Linthicum fired several shots, hitting one officer, then fled the scene, police said.

Officers did not fire their weapons, reported Baltimore County Police spokesperson Joy Stewart. That officer has since been released from the hospital, Stewart noted. Residents were asked to shelter in place as police searched for Linthicum Wednesday night and most of Thursday.

During the manhunt, Linthicum shot a Baltimore County police officer several times and stole his official police vehicle Thursday, authorities said. Dr. Thomas Scalea of the Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore said during a news conference the detective was in stable condition but on life support after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and extremities.

Gov. Wes Moore on Friday said he visited with the family and colleagues of the Baltimore County detective who is on life support after being shot while in pursuit of Linthicum.

"We are praying for the strength and swift recovery of both officers who were shot. We also extend our support and love to their colleagues, families, and loved ones," Moore said in a statement.

"I want to thank our law enforcement partners in Baltimore and Harford counties, Maryland State Police, and our federal partners in the FBI and ATF for their collaboration in the tireless pursuit and apprehension of this individual," Moore said. "Thank you to Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and Acting Chief Dennis Delp for their communication and leadership throughout this incident."

The governor also praised residents who cooperated to inform law enforcement about the suspect's whereabouts, which may have saved lives.

"We ask Marylanders to keep the detective in their hearts, thoughts, and prayers as he recovers from his injuries," Moore said. "He and his fellow officers are true heroes, who unselfishly put their lives on the line to protect Marylanders. Our state is forever grateful for their everyday sacrifice."

Linthicum then drove out of Baltimore County and abandoned the vehicle near the intersection of Belair Road and Mountain Road, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office, after police used spike strips to disable the stolen vehicle. He sought refuge in a wooded area near a shopping mall in Fallston, trying to elude officers.

"Time was on our side. He was in a wooded area among rocks and boulders, trying to seclude himself from the helicopter from Baltimore County and our drones here from the sheriff's office and our allied agencies," Gahler said during the news conference. "We closed area schools out of an abundance of caution just minutes before the arrest was made."

Police employed "less-lethal" tactics during the standoff to try to get Linthicum to surrender, according to Gahler. Police were able to communicate with Linthicum toward the end of the standoff, Gahler reported.

Linthicum had ammunition on him when he was taken into custody, but not a rifle. The weapon was later found in the abandoned police vehicle he stole, Gahler said.

Authorities have not yet disclosed what charges Linthicum faces.