Man Fatally Shot In Own Apartment By Officer Identified: Police

SUITLAND, MD — A man was fatally shot in his own apartment by a Prince George's County police officer who believed the man had broken into the apartment based on a 911 call, authorities said Monday.

The shooting victim has been identified as 31-year-old Melvin Jay of Suitland.

The fatal confrontation happened Feb. 1 around 5:25 p.m. Officers were dispatched to the Windham Creek apartment complex on Suitland Road after receiving a 911 call from a resident reporting a break-in in progress at the apartment.

Prince George's Police Officer Braxton Shelton, who has four years of law enforcement experience, went into the apartment and found Jay. When giving Jay commands, the officer discharged his service weapon, hitting and killing Jay. Two handguns were recovered near Jay, according to the Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.

However, an investigation has revealed that Jay was not the original 911 caller reporting a break-in, but rather lived in the apartment. 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.