Bodycam Footage Shows Moments Before MoCo Police Fatally Shot Man With Grill Fork

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Montgomery County police have released body-worn camera footage of the moments leading up to when an officer fatally shot a man armed with a grill fork last month.

The fatal shooting happened Sept. 21 around 7:45 p.m. in the 3400 block of Janet Road after Montgomery County police received a 911 call reporting an assault. According to an earlier news release, officers confronted a man in a yard holding something in his right hand, and shouted commands at the man to “drop the knife.”

The man did not comply, began to cross the street and one officer fired his service weapon, striking the man, the news release said.

The victim has since been identified as 31-year-old Melvin Omar Chavez-Paz. The officer who shot him was identified as Corporal Cody Hobbs, a 12-year veteran of the Montgomery County Police Department.

On Monday, police released footage from Hobbs' body-worn camera that shows him arriving on the scene. When Hobbs gets out of his police cruiser, he approaches a group of people who appear upset and tells them to calm down. Someone in the group then points out Chavez-Paz, who walks out from behind a house on the other side of the street.

Chavez-Paz then begins crossing the street toward Hobbs and the group of people with something long clutched in his hand, partially blocked by his forearm. Hobbs notices the item, takes out his gun, points it at Chavez-Paz and demands multiple times that he "drop the knife."

According to the footage, Chavez-Paz refused to drop the item that investigators later determined was a grill fork. In the video, he is seen approaching Hobbs and the group of people. Hobbs then opens fire, striking Chavez-Paz.

Officers immediately rendered medical aid and called for EMS, but Chavez-Paz was pronounced dead at the scene. A large grill fork was recovered near his body.

Hobbs was placed on administrative leave following the shooting, which is department protocol. The Office of the Attorney General Independent Investigations Division is reviewing the shooting. The Montgomery County Police Department is also conducting an internal investigation to determine if Hobbs will face disciplinary action.