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Police: 2 Harford deputies shot, killed

Posted at 12:18 PM, Feb 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-10 22:05:50-05

Two Harford County sheriff's deputies shot in Abingdon Wednesday afternoon have died, police confirmed. 

Police say the incident happened at the Panera Bread restaurant in the same shopping center as Wegmans grocery store. Officers responded to a call at the Abingdon Panera around 11:46 a.m.

One deputy went into the restaurant and encountered the suspect, identified as  68-year-old David Brian Evans. Police say Evans fired at the deputy, hitting him, then ran toward the nearby Park View at Box Hill Senior Living Apartments.

A second deputy tried to make contact with Evans and was also shot, according to the sheriff's office.

Two Harford County sheriff's deputies at the scene then opened fire. Evans was pronounced dead at the scene. Police recovered a loaded handgun.

The officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave as part of standard sheriff's office protocol.

At an evening news conference, Gahler said there were at least two warrants for Evans' arrest at the time of the deadly shootings.

The deputies were 16 and 30-year veterans.

The sheriff's office confirmed the shooting on Twitter. The incident is still under investigation. 

After reports of the shooting emerged, Wegmans Food Markets took to Twitter to reassure customers and employees' loved ones and clarify that the shooting did not happen at that business.

Area police departments, emergency responders and the governor took to social media with messages of solidarity and sympathy for the sheriff's office.

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