Body camera footage shows Baltimore officer struck by car before shooting driver

A veteran Baltimore Police officer was struck by a car before opening fire on the driver and critically wounding him Saturday night in downtown Baltimore, video from the officer’s body camera released Friday showed.

Officer Samuel Thomas, a 20-year agency veteran, allowed Tyrik Braxton to get into his car to retrieve his belongings before having the vehicle towed for expired tags and registration, the footage showed. But instead of grabbing his things, Braxton got in the driver’s seat, started the car and accelerated forward into Thomas.

The impact caused Thomas to fall on the hood. His body camera showed him clinging to the car with his left hand as Braxton tried to escape.

“Yo! What the f---!” Thomas exclaimed before firing three times at Braxton.

Police officials said Braxton was struck twice by Thomas’ bullets. He remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition, they said.

Investigators obtained a warrant charging Braxton, 29, with attempted murder, Police Commissioner Richard Worley told reporters Friday. He is to be served with the charges upon his discharge from the hospital, Worley said.

“This was a very unfortunate incident that did not have to happen,” Worley said, defending his officer while faulting Braxton for escalating an encounter over an expired registration and tags.

The Police Department’s Special Investigative Response Team is investigating the shooting in the 300 block of N. Eutaw Street along with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. The local prosecutors are handling the case instead of their counterparts in the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, which investigates all fatalities involving police, because Braxton is expected to survive.

Worley said police do not believe that Thomas and Braxton had previous interactions. Braxton, however, had been arrested twice in the area of the shooting over the last several years, Worley said. The latest, in 2024, was for driving under the influence, Worley said, and Braxton allegedly struck a police car then.

Braxton and members of his family could not be reached for comment.

Thomas was hospitalized and released after sustaining injuries to his back and neck. He remains on routine administrative leave, as is protocol after a police shooting.

“His back and neck hurts,” Worley said. “Obviously, on the first day, your adrenaline is really flowing. But it’s like when you get into a car accident, the next day your body is really, really sore.”

The footage released Friday picks up with Thomas filling out paperwork while standing by a black Acura sedan.

Moments later, a woman and man approach him. Addressing him as “Thomas,” the woman asks the officer what he’s doing.

“There’s a pickup order on the tags. Everything is suspended. Registration is suspended. You can’t have a car parked with no tags on it. I have to tow it,” Thomas said.

The two continued with friendly banter as the woman, who authorities did not identify, pleaded with Thomas not to have the car towed. Thomas said it was too late, but offered the man, later identified by police as Braxton, an option to get his belongings out of the vehicle.

“So, if you want to get your stuff out of it, you can get your stuff out of it,” Thomas said.

Worley said Thomas didn’t have to allow Braxton to get his belongings and was “just being a nice guy.”

Thomas positioned himself in front of the vehicle as backup arrived, blocking the street.

After getting in the driver’s seat, Braxton started the car. Then he accelerated forward. triggering the rapid sequence that ended in Thomas shooting Braxton, Braxton’s car striking the backup officer’s patrol car before screeching to a halt in the middle of the street.

“Why would you do that?” an exacerbated Thomas asked Braxton as he removed him from the car and began rendering medical aid. The officer quickly focused on the task at hand. “Are you OK? Stay with me. Stay with me, OK?”

Video from the camera of the officer who provided backup for Thomas showed a crowd gathering and becoming agitated. Baltimore Police’s Foxtrot helicopter captured footage of bystanders hurling bottles at officers who were trying to help Braxton until medics arrived.

“Get back. Get back on the sidewalk. I will pepper spray you,” Thomas’ backup told bystanders.

With four months to go in 2026, Saturday’s shooting marked the ninth time Baltimore Police opened fire on someone this year, according to a Banner tally. That ties the total for 2021, which represented the most Baltimore Police shootings since 2016.

Asked if he was concerned about the rate officers were opening fire this year, Worley defended his agency.

“My concern is for the people’s lack of disregard for the law,” the commissioner said.

This article was updated.