PASADENA — Anne Arundel County Police detailed what led to an officer-involved shooting in Pasadena on March 18.
Officers were called just after 11 am to a home in the 7800 block of Bodkin View Drive.
Police say a mental health facility had called them about a suicidal man at the location.
They were told 79-year-old Leonard John Popa, who was bedridden, was threatening to harm himself.
When officers arrived, they knocked on the door, but no one answered. They realized the door was unlocked, entered the home, and announced themselves.
Police say Popa did tell the officers to come inside. When officers walked into the bedroom, they found Popa seated on his bed.
He told police he had a gun and officers saw the handle of a gun protruding from the mattress.
According to police, officers then told Popa to stay away from the gun, but he didn't respond, and after repeated commands from the officers, Popa instead reached for the gun and pointed it towards the officers.
Police said that's when Corporal T. Brennan, a seven year veteran of the agency, feared his life was in immediate danger and shot at Popa.
Popa was shot in the arm and in the upper torso. He died on scene.
Brennan is also a certified crisis intervention specialist with the department and is currently on administrative leave.
