Slain Officer: 55 Charges Against Gunman in Police Station Attack, Prosecutor

LANDOVER, MD — Three brothers involved in a March gun battle at a Prince George’s County police station – an exchange of gunfire that killed one police officer – were all indicted Tuesday by a grand jury.

If convicted, the three men face multiple life sentences in the deadly shooting, prosecutors said.

Grand jurors indicted Michael Ford on 55 criminal charges, authorities said, including second-degree murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree assault.

Michael DeAndre Ford, 22, of Landover is accused of shooting at police in a "suicide by cop attempt," sparking a March 13 gunfight that led to Officer Jacai Colson’s death; he died from a bullet fired by a fellow law officer. Ford’s brothers -- Malik Ford, 21, of Fort Washington and Elijah Ford, 18, of Landover – reportedly knew Michael’s plan to ambush a police station.

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Malik and Elijah Ford were also each indicted on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy for the attack on the District III police station.

Chief Hank Stawinski said in a statement on the indictments:

"We thank the citizens of the grand jury who handed down the indictments today. While this is a significant responsibility in and of itself, the product of their work supports the men and women of the Prince George's County Police Department and affirms the sacrifices they make for our community, and for that I'm deeply appreciative. This decision is another step in the process of ensuring justice is served on behalf of the Colson family, this police department and this community."

The attempted murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, and the defendants face multiple charges for each of the police officers involved in the parking lot gun battle, prosecutors said.

While Elijah and Malik Ford didn’t fire a weapon, they face the attempted murder and conspiracy charges for allegedly failing to prevent their brother’s fatal assault on the police station, State’s Attorney Sharon Alsobrooks said at a press conference.

“This caused tremendous hurt, from the officers who were involved that day who were were outside, to their families, certainly the family of Officer Colson, his parents, his mother celebrated Mother’s Day Sunday without her son,” Alsobrooks said. … “This really has caused quite a bit of harm. Officer Colson came there to help and was killed.”

SEE ALSO:

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An emotional Stawinski previously denounced the brothers of the suspect for allegedly recording the gun battle rather than trying to warn passers-by or stop their brother, who intended to die in the shootout.

“This was callously recorded and could have been prevented,” Stawinski said.

Michael Ford wanted notoriety, State’s Attorney Sharon Alsobrooks said in court in April.

Ford wanted the smartphone video his brothers took of the shooting sent to the WorldStar Hip Hop entertainment website, a detective testified in court, reports WTOP.

Officer Taylor Krauss fired the rifle shot that killed Colson, who pulled up to the police station in an unmarked car and wearing civilian clothes. Krauss mistook Colson as a threat during the gun battle.

Stawinski said the officers who ran out of the District III station were being fired upon by Michael Ford, while Colson drove up in an unmarked vehicle in the middle of the gunfight. The fallen officer “heroically” stepped out of his car to draw gunfire, which let the other officers gain a better tactical advantage over the shooter and then render first aid.

Colson was dressed in civilian clothes and was not in body armor. “He is not prepared for a firefight,” the chief said.

»Police photo of suspects