Man fatally shot by police at apartment fire scene in Hagerstown, Maryland

A man was shot and killed by police officers responding to an apartment fire in Hagerstown, Maryland. Two knives were recovered from the scene; no officers were injured.

Police shoot and kill man found inside burning Hagerstown apartment building

A man was fatally shot by Hagerstown police officers on Friday afternoon after firefighters responding to an apartment blaze called for law enforcement assistance, the Maryland Attorney General's Office announced. nbcwashington.com reports the incident occurred at approximately 4:50 p.m. in the unit block of Randolph Avenue.

The Hagerstown Fire Department was already on scene dealing with a fire in the building when firefighters encountered the man inside and requested police backup. The circumstances that led firefighters to call for help have not been disclosed by authorities.

Officers established a perimeter around the building upon arrival. When the man ran outside toward them, officers reported issuing verbal commands and deploying tasers before opening fire. He was struck by gunfire from the officers' service weapons and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Two knives were recovered from the scene, though authorities have not confirmed whether the man was armed at the moment shots were fired. No officers sustained injuries during the incident.

The man's identity and the names of the officers involved have not been made public. The officers were wearing body cameras at the time of the shooting, and footage is generally released within 20 business days of such an incident, according to the Attorney General's Office. Additional time may be required to interview witnesses, protect the identities of civilians captured on video, or allow family members to view the footage beforehand.

The Independent Investigations Division of the Attorney General's Office is leading the investigation into the shooting. Authorities have not elaborated on the cause of the apartment fire or what specifically prompted firefighters to request police assistance.

Anyone with information, including cellphone video or private surveillance footage, is asked to contact the Independent Investigations Division at 410-576-7070 or [email protected].

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)