No charges for Baltimore officers who fatally shot man after he opened fire, AG says

Two Baltimore Police officers who fatally shot a man after he opened fire on them in May will not face criminal charges, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced Friday.

The attorney general’s Independent Investigations Division, which investigates all fatalities involving police in the state, determined that Officers Sharod Watson and Mark Rankine did not commit a crime when they fatally shot 46-year-old Louis Jackson in South Baltimore on May 14.

According to a news release from his office, Brown agreed with his prosecutors’ conclusion and declined to bring charges related to the shooting in the 800 block of Caton Avenue.

Officers assigned to Baltimore Police’s Southwestern District received a call in the morning of May 14 reporting a man threatening suicide near Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital, according to the department. By the time they arrived at the apartment building where they had been dispatched to, the man had left.

Police Commissioner Richard Worley said Jackson crossed on foot into the department’s Southern District, whose officers had not received the call.

Watson, a 13-year agency veteran, was doing routine patrol near Saint Agnes when something struck his vehicle, according to video captured by his body camera.

“Gentleman on the corner was just shooting at me right at Wilkens and Caton Avenue,” Watson said into his radio before describing the man. “I’m keeping my distance. Looked like he had a small revolver.”

His colleague on patrol, Rankine, who has been with Baltimore Police for three years, quickly reported that his vehicle had been damaged by gunfire, too.

After being fired at, Watson pulled over in the 3300 block of Wilkens Avenue, the body camera footage shows. He took cover behind his patrol car as the man, who police later identified as Jackson, ran across the road in his direction.

“Get down. Get on the ground!” Watson shouted.

Jackson refused Watson’s command and fired his .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver four times.

Watson and Rankine returned fire, striking Jackson. The footage showed him collapse on the ground. Officials said he was taken to Saint Agnes Hospital, where he died.

When he relased the body camera footage, Worley said his officers had no choice but to shoot Jackson.

“Our officers did everything they could not to shoot that individual, but when someone is running at you shooting a gun, you have to respond,” Worley said at the time.

Baltimore Police spokesperson Lindsey Eldridge said both officers remain on administrative duty while the department’s internal affairs investigation continues.

Jackson’s family could not be reached.

This article has been updated.