Former Bowie Officer Sentenced After Firing Weapon At Driver

BOWIE, MD — A former Bowie police officer has been sentenced in connection to a shooting that happened along Collington Road near US Route 50 in Bowie in September 2024.

Robert Warrington, 37, was a 12-year veteran of the police department when he shot at a man who approached him as he investigated a stopped vehicle. According to court documents, Warrington was captured on video shooting at a man after he had stopped behind what he thought was a stranded driver parked alongside Collington Road in Bowie on Sept. 12, 2024, around 8 a.m.

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While walking up to the vehicle, Warrington discharged his firearm, hitting a vehicle that was passing by, the police department reported.

During the investigation, it was learned that video released by the police department shows Warrington pulling up behind a car with its hazard lights on. As he opened his door, a man can be seen walking next to the patrol car and continuing toward the passenger side of the car that was in the shoulder with its lights flashing.

"Are you here to help her?" Warrington can be heard asking the man, who responded, "Nah, she's taking me to the hospital," apparently referencing the woman inside the stranded vehicle.

About three seconds after the exchange, the officer can be seen pulling out his service weapon and firing in the man's direction. The man fell to the ground as the woman in the car got out and repeatedly shouted, "What did you do?"

Warrington can be heard saying "he had a gun" and the man responded from the ground, "I don't have a gun." Shortly after that, Warrington can be heard repeating "I'm sorry," several times. The man was not shot, instead, prosecutors said a bullet from the officer's gun hit a passing car.

The man has stated previously that he was trying to chase down his hat that had blown away while his girlfriend and children sat in the vehicle.

Following a two-day bench trial, a Prince George's County Circuit Court judge found Warrington guilty of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.

Warrington has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, suspending all but 18 months, to be served on home detention, followed by five years of supervised probation with additional home detention to be served during the first 18 months.

"We place a great deal of trust in those sworn to uphold the law, and that trust comes with a great responsibility," Prince George's County State's Attorney Tara Jackson said. "The defendant's actions placed innocent people in danger and violated the trust placed in him as a police officer. Our continued pursuit of justice in this case and in others reinforces our belief that no one is above the law. I am grateful to the prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication throughout this case."