Man Who Tried to Shoot Cop Sentenced to Prison

Lanham, MD —A fleeing murder suspect who pulled the trigger multiple times in an attempt to shoot a police officer chasing him was sentenced to prison on Wednesday, authorities say.

Joseph Chatman Clay of Lanham was charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to shoot a Prince George’s County Police officer. Clay pointed his gun at Detective Shea Jefferson, who was chasing him, pulled the trigger several times, but the loaded weapon didn’t fire, police say, because there was not a round in the chamber.

Clay pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and use of handgun in commission of a crime, WTOP reports. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison with eight years suspended.

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Clay was already wanted on an arrest warrant for attempted murder for an August 2015 shooting in Riverdale.

The armed encounter began when two officers on patrol spotted a car driving about 25 miles per hour on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, slowing traffic. When the car was pulled over by officers at the Riverdale Road exit, Clay jumped out of the front seat and ran.

Jefferson chased him, and when Clay was just a few feet away he turned toward the officer, pointed the gun at the officer and pulled the trigger but didn’t strike Jefferson.

Police say Clay tossed the gun over a fence and continued to flee, but was tackled by an off-duty Prince George’s County Sheriff’s deputy who overhead the radio traffic and came to assist.

The driver of the car -- David Edward Hall, 24, of Frederick – faces drug charges after police reportedly found marijuana and MDMA pills in the vehicle.

Jeffersion suffered a leg injury; he was treated by doctors and released.

“We are so thankful this dangerous felon is off the streets and our officer was able to go home to his family,” the police department said on its blog after the arrest.

»Photo of Joseph Clay of Lanham, courtesy of Prince George’s County Police