No Charges For Baltimore Officers In Fatal Shooting Of Teen
Three Baltimore police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a teenager last year will not face criminal charges, according to a decision announced Wednesday by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
The victim, 17-year-old William Gardner, was shot approximately 12 times on August 5, 2024, near North Stricker Street in Southwest Baltimore. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardner’s death sparked outrage among community members and advocates, who described it as another instance of excessive force used against a young Black man.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID), which is tasked with reviewing all fatal police encounters in Maryland, concluded its investigation on June 5. In a press release, the office stated that Detectives Devon Lomax, Shariff Kellogg, and Thomas Smith “did not commit a crime under Maryland law.”
According to police reports, the detectives were patrolling the area when they approached a group of teenagers. The group scattered, and officers said Gardner exhibited behavior they associated with being armed and fled on foot.
Body camera footage later released shows two officers shouting at Gardner from their patrol vehicle, demanding he get on the ground. One officer can be heard warning, “I will shoot you.”
The Attorney General’s statement notes that Lomax exited the vehicle and grabbed Gardner’s arm. Gardner then allegedly raised a firearm toward Detectives Kellogg and Smith, prompting all three officers to open fire. Authorities say the officers fired up to 21 shots.
Initially, officials withheld Gardner’s identity under juvenile privacy laws, but he was later publicly identified by police.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley called the incident “a truly tragic situation” at the time.
Reactions from the community were swift and emotional. Taavon Bazemore, a local resident and worker, told the Associated Press the response was excessive. “He shouldn’t have had a gun, but that doesn’t mean you kill him,” Bazemore said.
A memorial soon appeared at the corner where Gardner was killed, with candles, balloons, and handwritten messages. Peggy Kallon, who owned a nearby corner store, remembered Gardner with sorrow.
“He was a good kid,” she said. “Seventeen years old, and they just shot him like that… I’m speechless.”
No Charges For Baltimore Officers In Fatal Shooting Of Teen was originally published on wolbbaltimore.com
