Names Released Of Bel Air Officer, Driver Involved In Fatal Shooting

BEL AIR, MD — Investigators have identified the Bel Air police officer in the fatal police-involved shooting that happened Saturday.

The officer has been identified as Christopher Birch who has two months of BAPD service and three years of law enforcement experience. He currently is assigned to the uniform patrol division, according to the Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, which is investigating the shooting.

The driver who was fatally shot has been identified as 57-year-old Francisco Aparicio-Munoz of Bel Air.

According to the Bel Air Police Department, the preliminary investigation indicates that on Saturday around 8:55 p.m., Birch stopped a vehicle in the unit block of Franklin Street. During the traffic stop, the driver, identified as Aparicio-Munoz, and the officer became involved in a physical fight and the officer fired his service weapon, hitting the man, the IID stated.

Officers provided emergency medical aid until emergency medical services arrived at the scene. The driver was flown to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center where he was later pronounced dead, according to the Bel Air Police Department. The officer also was injured and was treated at the hospital.

Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email at IID@oag.maryland.gov.

The IID release the name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary, pursuant to IID protocol.

Officers were equipped with body-worn cameras. The IID release body-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public, the IID stated.

Related:

Bel Air Officer Injured, Driver Killed During Traffic Stop