No charges will be brought against the Baltimore Police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Jai Marc Howell, as stated by Attorney General Anthony Brown. The Fox Baltimore report confirmed the Attorney General’s announcement, detailing that the incident occurred on May 12 in the 4600 block of York Road.
Officers encountered Howell, who, after fleeing on foot and being pursued, produced a firearm. Police claim to have repeatedly instructed Howell to drop the weapon before shots were exchanged. Howell fired twice before being struck by officers' return fire, according to the Attorney General's Office. While running away, he initiated the deadly confrontation, having pulled out the handgun.
Howell was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An investigation into the shooting was launched by the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) on the same day. It concluded last Monday, finding no criminal wrongdoing by the officers involved in the incident.
WMAR-2 News reported that body camera footage from the officers involved, Detective Steven Foster, Detective Enger Jimenez, and Detective Tony Tiburzi, was released by Baltimore Police on May 22. A two-minute segment from Foster's camera showed the officer yelling, "put that gun down bro," and warning Howell, "I'm gonna shoot you bro.” Jimenez and Tiburzi's perspectives were included in the remaining footage, showing the aftermath and the officers securing the weapon. Shortly after, Howell was dealt with by police, who rendered aid before his hospitalization.
No Baltimore Police officers sustained injuries during the event. The decision by the Attorney General not to bring charges comes after careful examination of all available evidence, including the aforementioned body camera footage.
