School Resource Officer Fatally Shot Self At Eastern Tech: Police

ESSEX, MD — Police said the school resource officer at Eastern Technical High School was found deceased Monday afternoon in his office. Officer J. Comegna, who is a 21-year veteran of the police department, is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities report.

Comegna has been a school resource officer for 12 years and the permanent school resource officer at Eastern Tech for four years, according to Baltimore County Police spokeswoman Jen Peach.

Police said that there was a medical emergency involving the school resource officer inside the high school in the 1100 block of Mace Avenue at 12:23 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12.

"Faculty heard a sound," Peach said, and when they went to find out what it was: "They discovered the officer suffering from a gunshot wound inside his office. The officer was alone."

Comegna had been shot in the upper body, and video from the school showed he was the only one in his office, which is in the basement. He was taken to Franklin Square Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

"Preliminarily, we believe it is a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Peach said.

"The school was initially put on lockdown," Peach said. "That area of the school was kept on lockdown so that nobody could enter..."

Comegna had on a body-worn camera, but there was nothing that would have required that he turn it on, according to Peach, who explained there are protocols dictating when it would need to be activated. Investigators do not believe it was on at the time of his death.

"It's still very early on" in the investigation, she said. Police will look into circumstances in his life to try to find a motive.

By 1:55 p.m., authorities advised the incident was "not ongoing at this time," and the building was safe.

School was dismissed at the regular time of 2:20 p.m.

All after-school and evening activities were canceled at Eastern Technical High School for Monday, Nov. 12, Baltimore County Public Schools reported around 2 p.m.

"There is no threat to students or community," Peach said.

School is expected to reopen on Tuesday, Nov. 13, and there will be crisis counselors available for both teachers and students.

Help for Those Considering Suicide

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help.

Anyone struggling with mental health can get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available 24 hours a day, at 1-800-273-8255 or by texting HOME to 741741.

The Kristin Brooks Hope Center provides specific hotlines for suicide prevention, veterans support, teens, grad students and those with postpartum depression.

Also find resources available around Maryland to help those who are in crisis.

Baltimore Co police officer Joseph Comegna, seen here with students in an undated newsletter article about school resource officers. Quoted as saying his whole family are police officers.
Killed himself with apparent self inflicted gunshot wound in his Eastern Tech office today pic.twitter.com/l67ioprNC6
— Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) November 12, 2018

Balto Co Police officers and crime lab at Eastern Tech Baltimore County. School is in lock down. Some parents are being allowed to pick up their children. School is allowing one parent at a time inside. Police will only say medical episode no student impact pic.twitter.com/6Eo0QX3Twp
— David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) November 12, 2018

This is breaking news and may be updated.

File photo.