Body-Worn Camera Footage Released In Officer's Shooting Of Apartment Resident

SUITLAND, MD — The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has released the body-worn camera footage of the Prince George’s County Police Department’s fatal officer-involved shooting that happened Feb. 1 in Suitland.

On Feb. 1 around 5:25 p.m., Prince George's police officers were called to the Windham Creek apartment complex in the 5100 block of Suitland Road. A resident reported a breaking and entering happening in their apartment. Once on the scene, Prince George's Police Officer Braxton Shelton, who has four years of law enforcement experience, found 31-year-old Melvin Jay of Suitland in the apartment and gave him orders. During the exchange, the officer discharged his service weapon, hitting Jay, who was pronounced dead on scene. No officers were injured, the police department reported.

Two handguns were recovered from the scene, one in Jay’s pocket and the second in the kitchen sink. The IID has identified Jay as a resident of the home but he was not the original 911 caller. Authorities have not said who made the 911 call.

During a news conference held the night of the deadly shooting, Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz said there was "an exchange" between the officer and the man. There were two people inside the apartment at the time of the incident, Aziz said.

"The exchange was not one of gunfire. It was a verbal exchange that occurred with the people who were in the house. Two people were inside the location. One that he encountered he discharged his weapon and the discourse was fatal," Aziz said during the news conference.

The Independent Investigations Division continues to investigate the circumstances of the fatal shooting.

Ronald Richardson with the Murphy, Falcon and Murphy law firm has been retained by Jay's family.

"Our team has begun the initial phase of the case investigation and will refrain from providing further comments at this time," Richardson told Patch.