Man Killed Trying to Rob Cop in Liquor Store: Police

BALTIMORE, MD – A would-be robber who tried to hold up a cop in a liquor store was fatally shot Friday evening in west Baltimore, according to a Baltimore Police spokesman.

The off-duty policeman was dressed in plain clothes and was about to make a purchase at Greentree Liquors at approximately 5:55 p.m. on Friday when an armed man entered the business and tried to rob him, Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith said.

"The suspect had the gun out when he came into the establishment," Smith said.

At the time, the policeman was at the window of the liquor store/carryout business on West Baltimore at Calhoun streets, according to officials.

"The suspect came in and announced a robbery, and we believe was actually robbing the officer as opposed to the business..." Smith said. "It doesn't appear that he had any idea that it was a police officer that he was robbing."

The officer got out his weapon and fired multiple times, then called 911, Smith said.

The suspect was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced deceased, according to Smith.

The identities of the suspect and the officer were not yet available, police said Friday evening. The officer was a veteran of the department assigned to a task force, Smith said. The deceased was an adult male.

"We are certainly fortunate that this was a trained officer that was in there," Smith noted, as opposed to a civilian. Other individuals inside the store witnessed the incident, including employees, he said. "The person that [the suspect] attempted to rob today was an armed police officer, and [the officer] defended himself."

Officials said that it was not unusual for an officer to be shopping in the area.

"We're not just out here for enforcement purposes," Col. Stanley Branford, who oversees the homicide unit, said. "We live here, we shop here and we frequent the stores here."

Added Branford: "Not only are we policing this community; we are part of this community.

The officer involved in the shooting will be placed on routine administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Baltimore Police Department's special response team and homicide unit are investigating the incident.