Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has decided his office will not pursue criminal charges against the two Baltimore Police officers who opened fire during a January 20 encounter in Southeast Baltimore that left 40-year-old Jamarl Muse dead. The announcement came on April 13 and effectively closed the Independent Investigations Division’s months-long review of the shooting.
According to a press release from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, the Independent Investigations Division (IID) opened its probe the night of the incident and completed its work on April 7. Prosecutors reviewed the available evidence and concluded that the involved officers did not commit a crime under Maryland law, so the office declined to prosecute.
How the encounter unfolded
Police were first called after a 911 caller reported that a man with a handgun was threatening someone at a home and identified the man as Jamarl Muse. A responding patrol car later spotted a man matching that description riding a white bicycle on Eastern Avenue. Officers say Muse fled through parking lots and onto an I-95 on-ramp before they chased him on foot and brought him to the ground.
Body-worn camera video released by Baltimore Police shows a struggle on the roadside and, seconds later, a single gunshot. Officers then pull back and return fire. That sequence is visible in footage reported by the AFRO.
What investigators found
The IID’s declination report states that during the struggle, Muse produced a Taurus .357 revolver and fired one round. Sgt. Carlos Arias and Officer Edwin Ruiz then discharged their service weapons, striking Muse. Forensic testing recovered Muse’s revolver and confirmed spent cartridge cases consistent with the officers’ department-issued handguns. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Muse had 11 gunshot wounds and ruled the manner of death "Homicide." Investigators also noted that officers provided emergency medical aid until EMS arrived and recovered a handgun at the scene.
For additional details, the full declination report is available from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.
What it means legally
The IID’s legal analysis explains that to file criminal charges, prosecutors would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers used force that was unnecessary and disproportionate. Investigators concluded the evidence did not meet that standard in this case. That outcome tracks with the division’s broader record: since 2021, it has examined dozens of officer-involved deaths but has brought criminal cases only infrequently, according to The Daily Record.
Both officers remain on administrative leave while the Baltimore Police Department conducts any internal reviews. The Attorney General’s Office has released the full investigative file, inviting scrutiny from the public and the press.
