A Baltimore police officer was shot Tuesday during a barricade standoff in the Park Heights neighborhood of Northwest Baltimore, authorities said. The officer was hit by gunfire and rushed to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Police said a suspect was also wounded in the exchange of shots. Officers sealed off the surrounding streets and urged people to stay away while investigators worked the block.
Scene and police response
Officers were in the 6200 block of Park Heights Avenue when someone opened fire from a window, striking the officer, according to WBALTV. The outlet reported that the suspect was also shot and that police shut down the street to traffic while detectives combed the area for evidence. WBAL noted its coverage was being updated as the situation unfolded.
Timeline and hospital update
The shooting happened around 12:30 p.m., and the injured officer was taken to Shock Trauma for treatment, CBS Baltimore reported. The call was described as an "active shooter" incident, and police asked people to steer clear of the area, Associated Press said. Authorities have not released the names of the officer or the suspect, and officials have not publicly detailed the officer's condition.
Park Heights context
Park Heights has long been a focus of violence-prevention work in Baltimore. Earlier this year, the city's Safe Streets Park Heights program marked more than 365 days without a homicide in its catchment zone. Even with that milestone, the neighborhood has seen recent bloodshed, including a mass shooting last August that injured several people, as previously reported by WBALTV.
What investigators say next
Police have asked anyone with information or video of the incident to contact investigators, according to Associated Press. Officials said they plan to release more details, including updates on the officer's condition and any potential charges, once that information is verified by Baltimore Police. This story will be updated as new information is confirmed.
