Sheriff Identifies Joppa Man, Officers Involved in Weekend Gunfight

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office has identified the Joppa man and officers involved in a gunfight over the weekend.

Kevin Shawn Cox, 23, of the 3300 block of Clayton Road, is in critical but stable condition Monday after an incident outside his home Saturday morning in which he shot at officers and they returned fire, the sheriff’s office reported.

Officers were called to Cox’s residence around 3 a.m. Saturday for a disorderly person who was reportedly intoxicated, and authorities said they found his 2007 Dodge Charger had gone off the driveway and was in the yard.

According to the sheriff’s office, Cox fired a weapon multiple times from the vehicle.

Related: 23-Year-Old Flown to Shock Trauma After Officer-Involved Shooting

The K9 Unit, Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were called in to assist, the sheriff’s office reported.

After authorities had been attempting to defuse the situation for approximately half an hour, Cox got out of his vehicle and fired toward the officers, at which point they returned fire, the sheriff’s office reported.

None of the officers was injured, according to the report. Cox was airlifted to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was reportedly critical but stable on Monday.

Detectives found a loaded 38 revolver at the scene, according to the report.

These officers were involved and are on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office:

• Cpl. Christopher Aycock (9 years of law enforcement service)
• Deputy First Class Michael Stambaugh (10 years of law enforcement service)
• Deputy First Class Justin DiZenzo (5 years of law enforcement service, two with Baltimore Police)
• Deputy Nathan Schnitzlein (11 months of law enforcement service)
• Cpl. John Seilback of the K9 units (22 years of law enforcement service, five of them with Howard County)
• Trooper First Class Michael Dowling of Maryland State Police, Bel Air Barrack (6 years of law enforcement)

After the sheriff’s office and state police complete their investigation, their findings will be submitted to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.