Dundalk Gunfight: Police ID Suspect, Officers

DUNDALK, MD — The man killed in a shootout with police on Wednesday in Dundalk has been identified.

Blaine Robert Erb, 35, whose last known address was in the unit block of Alberge Lane, died at the scene on Dundalk Avenue Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Officers had been dispatched at 2:49 p.m. to an armed street robbery in progress on Dundalk Avenue at Avon Beach Road, where police allege Erb had tried to rob two people at gunpoint.

He boarded an MTA bus to make a getaway, but police stopped the vehicle near the Logan Village Shopping Center, in the 3400 block of Dundalk Avenue, officials reported. Authorities have determined five people were on the bus at the time and are working to determine whether there were others.

Police quickly stopped the bus, and Erb allegedly shot a weapon repeatedly at police as he tried to escape; officers exchanged fire with him for an extended period, police said, before he collapsed near the bus from at least one gunshot wound. According to officials, Erb was pronounced deceased at the scene.

"The investigation has determined that Erb had a lengthy criminal history in Maryland and neighboring states, including charges for robbery, weapon violations, assault and theft," the Baltimore County Police Department said in a statement. "He also had an open warrant through Pennsylvania."

Two .40 caliber semiautomatic handguns, ammunition and several gun magazines were next to Erb's body, police said. The firearms were not reported stolen but authorities said he was not allowed to own them because of a prior armed robbery conviction.

In Wednesday's shootout, one civilian and one officer were shot and survived.

The officer was taken to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, where officials said she was in serious condition after being shot twice in a lower extremity. She remained in serious condition Thursday, officials reported.

The civilian, a woman from the 5000 block of Queensbury Avenue in Baltimore's central Park Heights neighborhood, was shot in the lower body and had injuries that were not expected to be life-threatening.

See Also: Dundalk Shootout: Street Robbery Preceded Gun Battle, Police Say

Four officers who fired at Erb have been placed on routine administrative leave, police reported, none of whom have been involved in any prior "combat shootings":

• Police Officer First Class Carver of Precinct 12 is a 5.5-year veteran of the force.
• Police Officer First Class Leary of Precinct 12 is a 3.5-year veteran of the force.
• Police Officer First Class Minton of Precinct 12 is a 14.5-year veteran of the force.
• The fourth officer is a 17-year veteran of the force whose name will be withheld due to the officer's duty assignment.

Officer First Class Slocum, who was shot, is a 13-year veteran of the force, assigned to the Dundalk precinct.

At least one officer was wearing a body camera, and police said audio and video recordings are not being released at this time due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

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