Baltimore County Cops Shoot and Kill Unarmed, Reportedly Suicidal Man after Domestic Dispute
A Baltimore County Police cruiser parked outside the condominium of shooting victim Spencer McCain in Owings Hills, Maryland
UPDATE @ 6/28/2015 4:24 PM: Baltimore County police said on Saturday that they have now now launched an official investigation into the shooting. The officers were identified only by their last names: Shenell Wilkes, Shannon Stargel, and Jonathan Besaw. A police spokesman said he was prohibited from releasing the first names, ages, or any other details about the officers, but TruthVoice was able to identify the first names of the officers by the department’s salary records.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — An unarmed man was shot and killed Thursday by police after a domestic dispute with the mother of his children.
Baltimore County Police officers fatally shot Spencer McCain at his home late Thursday night after the mother of his children, Shannon Sulton, says he battered and threatened her. A police report says Sulton had cuts and bruises. The children were reportedly unharmed.
Police say three officers arrived at the scene, and all opened fire on McCain because his body language suggested to them that he may have been armed.
McCain’s 10-year-old daughter, one of two children present, called her grandmother, Rochelle Byrd, early Thursday morning after she heard fighting coming from her parents’ bedroom.
“I called [the child] back to tell her to open the door for the police, and he took the phone. He said, ‘I’m going to have to commit suicide,'” Byrd said. “I called back the police and told them he was going to commit suicide.”
Byrd said she feared McCain might kill his family along with himself.
A police officer who responded to Byrd’s emergency call heard screaming coming from the home and called for backup. Police officers then entered the home and shot McCain, firing 19 rounds in total.
Police did not release the names of the officers who shot and killed McCain. All three officers were placed on paid administrative leave.
