Bodycam footage from a fatal police shooting in Southeast Baltimore was released by the Baltimore Police Department, showcasing the intense moments leading up to the incident. The video, which was made public yesterday afternoon, features a high-stakes altercation on Eastern Avenue near the Anchor Square Shopping Center, as reported by WBAL-TV 11 News.
In the encounter, which occurred late at night on January 20, officers responded to a 911 call originating from a block away, where a fight had reportedly broken out involving Jamarl Muse, 40, of Baltimore. Muse was accused of brandishing a gun before fleeing the scene on a bicycle. An officer found Muse nearby and tackled him off the bike, as per a statement obtained by WMAR 2 News.
"What you're going to see in this video could've been completely avoided if the suspect just complied with the demands of the officers," Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said, according to WBAL-TV 11 News. The struggle that ensued on the ground saw Muse reportedly drawing a revolver and firing a shot. This action precipitated a response from multiple officers, who then returned fire, hitting Muse.
Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner Brian Nadeau detailed the confrontation, saying, "During that time, the male is able to discharge his .357 Taurus revolver one time." The officers involved were Sgt. Calrons Arias, a 15-year veteran, and Officer Edwin Ruiz, a three-year veteran, were previously identified as being included in the resolution of a prior police shooting in 2019. It's reported that Muse, who died at the scene, was prohibited from owning a gun due to previous gun and drug charges, as mentioned by WBAL-TV 11 News.
Following police protocol, both Arias and Ruiz have been assigned to administrative duties pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation by the Maryland Attorney General's Office Independent Investigations Division. No officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire, and the released footage concludes with officers performing CPR on Muse.
