A pair of police deputies from Maryland’s Harford County Sheriff’s Office were killed by an armed man who attracted police attention at a Panera Bread restaurant Wednesday afternoon.
After shooting the deputies and a brief pursuit with police, the suspect was shot and killed by authorities. The deputies’ identities have not yet been released as the police are still notifying extended family, reports The Washington Post.
In a Wednesday afternoon press briefing, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler confirmed the tragic deaths of the officers and provided additional details about the shooting.
“There are no words to describe what they’re going through right now,” Gahler said. “They’re both two outstanding deputies who served the citizens of this county for 16 and 30 years respectively.”
The shooter is 67-year-old David Brian Evans, who had a warrant out for his arrest for assaulting a police officer in Florida. Customers in the Abingdon Panera called the police at 11:46 a.m. after Evans came into the restaurant and began acting suspiciously.
Evans shot the first deputy and then fled the scene. Gahler said in the press conference that the shooter may have been motivated by an intent to harm cops, reports The Baltimore Sun.
“I think the suspect took that action because he was wearing a police uniform,” said Gahler. “He certainly targeted him.”
Another deputy pursued the shooter and found him down a hill near the Panera — the officer was then shot. Additional police arrived shortly thereafter and fired on Evans, killing him. The deputies involved in the shootout are on administrative leave as the sheriff’s office continues its investigation, reports The Washington Post.
No one else was injured in the incident, and all the Panera customers were released from the restaurant after interviews with authorities.
“Today’s violence in Abingdon and the deaths of two Harford County sheriff’s deputies is nothing less than absolutely heartbreaking,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said in the statement. “The First Lady and I send our most sincere thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the brave deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice today for the community they selflessly served. It is my hope that their commitment and dedication to law enforcement and protecting others will be remembered and will forever serve as an inspiration to others.”
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