Police identify officer, man involved in weekend shooting near Lexington Market

Baltimore Police have identified the man and officer involved in a police shooting near Lexington Market this past weekend.

The officer, identified as 20-year-veteran Samuel Thomas, was conducting traffic enforcement when he shot and critically wounded 29-year-old Tyrik L. Braxton of Columbia. Police said Braxton had struck Thomas with his vehicle and dragged him.

Braxton remains in critical condition at an area hospital. Thomas was released from a local hospital after sustaining injuries to his back and neck. He remains on administrative leave.

Police said in a news release Tuesday that Thomas was issuing a citation and preparing to have a car with expired and suspended registration towed from the 200 block of North Eutaw Street around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday when Braxton and another individual arrived.

Braxton denied being the owner. But Thomas, who was standing near the driver’s side door, told Braxton that records said otherwise. Thomas also confirmed Braxton was the registered owner of the car and allowed him to retrieve his belongings from the vehicle. Braxton denied having the keys, police said, but then got into the car and started it.

The officer asked another responding officer to position a patrol car in front of the car that was to be towed.

Police said Braxton accelerated forward, striking Thomas and knocking him onto the hood of the car, then put the car into reverse and accelerated again, dragging the officer. Police said Braxton additionally hit the patrol vehicle in front of the car.

The officer responded by firing his weapon at least three times toward the man’s vehicle and striking him, Police Commissioner Richard Worley said at a weekend news conference.

Worley said the officer did as expected.

“Your license is revoked; you shouldn’t even be driving. Your car shouldn’t even be on the street because it doesn’t have valid tags. The whole incident could’ve been deescalated by not getting in the car and following the officer’s directions,” he said.

Police said the incident is being reviewed by the department’s Special Investigations Response Team.