Body camera footage has laid out a timeline surrounding a series of shootings involving Baltimore police, which resulted in the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Bilal Yusuf Muhammad Abdullah Jr. This incident took place on June 17th around 7:17 PM in West Baltimore, specifically near the junction of Pennsylvania Avenue and Lawrence Avenue, according to the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
During the encounter, Abdullah was shot and, notably, one officer sustained a leg injury amidst the chaos.
Authorities claim they noticed a man they suspected was armed. The initial engagement started with an unmarked police cruiser, as officers attempted to engage Abdullah. He exited his vehicle and moved toward the officers but then suddenly shifted the bag he was carrying and took off running.
A second officer exited the cruiser to assist, while another officer responded from a marked patrol vehicle nearby. As the officers approached Abdullah, he reportedly drew a handgun and fired, injuring one officer in the foot. The audio captured on the footage reveals officers yelling, “Turn the fire and turn the fire.” In response, three officers fired back, striking Abdullah.
Both Abdullah and the wounded officer were taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Abdullah was pronounced dead at 11:14 PM, while the injured officer, who has served the department for eight years, underwent surgery and was reported to be in fair condition the next day.
The police secured the handgun involved in the incident.
Crowds assembled at the scene, which hampered emergency response efforts, but once the situation was contained, officers provided medical assistance until paramedics arrived.
The Baltimore Police Department’s Special Investigation Response Team (SIRT), the Homicide Division, and the Maryland Attorney General are all conducting a joint investigation into the shooting.
