The suspect fired on the Deputy first.
Frederick, Md. (NS/DG) – A shootout between a Frederick County Sheriff’s Deputy and a DUI suspect ended with the man suffering several gunshot wounds.
Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said at around 2:45 AM on Friday, police tried to pull over a speeding vehicle on Interstate 270 and Route 85.
The driver, 28-year-old Lookman-Khalil Abolajo Bello from Hagerstown, did not stop and a pursuit began that ended in the Kingsbrook community.
“When the vehicles were stopped the driver bailed out. There was a foot pursuit. The foot pursuit ended up over on Rooks Court where the man that was shot fired at the Deputy first. The Deputy returned fire,” said Jenkins.
Bello was hit in the shoulder and face.
The Deputy was not struck and performed CPR on Bello. He was taken to Shock Trauma and is in stable condition.
Sheriff Jenkins said the Attorney General’s Office declined to investigate the incident, leaving his agency to do it.
“They made that determination. After they were contacted, as required by law, they were advised and given an overview of what had happened. My understanding was they contacted Shock Trauma to find the condition of the patient and once they made that determination, they said, ‘Listen we’re not going to handle this. This is yours to take care of,'” he explained.
At the time of the incident, Bello had four outstanding warrants in Frederick and Washington Counties. He was also convicted in a shots-fired incident in Hagerstown in 2016.
Residents who live near the shooting scene awakened by gunfire.
This man says this isn’t the first time violence has erupted in this neighborhood.
“Lost sleep over it. I gotta go to work soon. This is ridiculous. Last time it was stabbing out here,” he said.
Carly described the early morning scene which took place outside her house.
“Initially, my dog was kinda losing his mind. I guess that’s when the first cops sped in here and the cars sped in here. Then when we heard the gunshots, that’s when it really woke me up out of my sleep,” she said.
She said the gunfire was too close for comfort.
“Considering that’s my bedroom window right there, it’s a little unnerving,” Carly said. “Everybody handled it the way they should have, and I feel pretty safe with the cops here.”
No one else was injured during the gunfire.
Police remained at the scene for most of the day.