BALTIMORE — A suspect was killed and an officer was injured following a police-involved shooting Monday morning.
According to Baltimore Police, it happened at N. Ellamont Street and Westwood Avenue around 9:41 A.M.
The officer, identified as detective Brandon Bolt was shot in the upper leg and taken to Shock Trauma. He's since been released, and is recovering.
Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said Bolt and other members of the warrant apprehension task force were in the area conducting surveillance on a domestic violence suspect who was going to be served a warrant.
Harrison said the suspect pulled up in a car beside the officers unmarked vehicle, got out and opened fire.
Bolt was in the driver’s seat when he was hit, but was still able to return fire and strike the suspect.
The gunman, identified as 25-year old Rodney Eubanks, later died at Shock Trauma. His gun was recovered at the crime scene.
Police say he wasn't tied to the surveillance investigation.
While there's been an outpouring of support for the injured officer, many in West Baltimore had no sympathy.
"They probably weren't paying attention," said one woman who asked not to be identified. "It doesn't make sense. These cops are out here sitting in their cars every day. They sit, I see them all the time. They sit in their cars they don’t do anything. They don’t interact with the community so how can the community trust them?"
Trust in police is what members in the neighborhood say is lacking.
One woman who asked not to be identified said she questions the level of surveillance the officers were doing.
"They must have not have been that alert if they didn't see him coming," she said. "It doesn’t make sense how this could have happened and as far as I am concerned, the surveillance part, I’m not sure about what was going on there."
It's unclear how long the undercover officers were doing surveillance before the suspect pulled up.
Harrison said the officers were wearing body cameras but couldn't say if they were on or not.
City Council President and Mayor-elect Brandon Scott said in a statement, in part:
"We know that there is a violence problem in Baltimore. We will not allow people to continue to cause mayhem and destruction in our city without being held accountable. As Mayor, I will continue to prioritize the public health and safety of our citizens through a comprehensive and targeted public safety strategy. We will make Baltimore a safer place for all of our residents to live, and first responders to serve. I thank each and every law enforcement officer for the risks they take each day and the work they do on behalf of our community to make Baltimore safer."
Anyone with information should call homicide detectives at (410) 396-2100.
