Andrew Britt, a 27-year-old man, has been charged in the shooting of a Baltimore County police officer that took place last Thursday in a precinct parking lot near the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) campus, as per police reports. Facing two counts of attempted first-degree murder, Britt is currently being held without bond and is hospitalized following the incident that caused injuries to both him and the officer, as CBS News Baltimore detailed.
The incident, which involved an exchange of gunfire, ensued after Britt engaged an officer at the back of the Wilkens Precinct and then fired shots. The stricken officer, a seven-year veteran of the department, was promptly taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma and was released after undergoing surgery in a condition that had been monitored closely, as reported by WBAL-TV. The officers who returned fire, one with two years of service and the other with 25, were placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol in these situations.
Aspects of Britt's background began to surface after the incident, raising questions about his employment and criminal history. Obtained court documents indicate that surveillance cameras captured the shooting, and Britt, who engaged a desk officer before the altercation, had fired after pulling out a gun during a verbal exchange with another officer. Britt, who worked as a teacher at Liberty Elementary School in Baltimore City, has been on leave and is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior conviction, as FOX Baltimore elucidated from court documents.
Amidst the ongoing investigation, Baltimore County Police have not released a motive for the shooting, nor has the injured officer been identified. Britt is slated for a bond hearing in Baltimore County District Court.
