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‘A horror’: Panera customer describes shooting of Md. deputy Witness describes chaotic Panera shooting that left two officers dead
(35 minutes later)
Two Harford County sheriff’s deputies were killed in Maryland on Wednesday by an armed man who entered a Panera Bread restaurant at lunchtime. The Harford County sheriff’s office released the names of two deputies who were fatally shot in Maryland on Wednesday in an incident that began at a Panera Bread restaurant during the lunch rush.
The gunman was fatally shot by authorities after he shot the two deputies. Deputy Patrick Dailey, a 30-year veteran of the department, and Senior Deputy Mark Logsdon, who had been with the office for 16 years, were shot and killed by a man who Dailey was trying to apprehend. Both officers were veterans of the military and left behind families.
Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler announced the deaths of two members of his department Wednesday afternoon. “It’s absolutely devastating to the people that wear this uniform,” said Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler at an 11 a.m. press conference. “There are no words. These men are heroes.”
“They’re both two outstanding deputies who served the citizens of this county for 16 and 30 years respectively,” Gahler said. The sheriff’s office identified the shooter as David Brian Evans, 67. They said that he was wanted on a warrant from Florida for assaulting a police officer there, as well as on a civil writ issued in Harford County.
He did not identify the deputies because he said their extended families had not been notified. Gahler said Dailey was the first to arrive at the scene and he went into the busy restaurant around noon Wednesday. The sheriff said Dailey was looking for the suspect and went to the back of the restaurant where he “had a discussion” with him.
The sheriff’s office identified the armed man as David Brian Evans, 67. They said that he was wanted on a warrant from Florida for assaulting a police officer there, as well as on a civil writ issued in Harford County. The suspect, Gahler said, “almost immediately produced a handgun” and shot the deputy in the head.
Gahler said Evans entered a Panera in Abingdon during the busy lunchtime rush Wednesday. At 11:46 a.m., someone called the police to say that a man was behaving suspiciously in the restaurant. Another deputy started to give medical aid to Dailey. No one else was hurt inside the restaurant and witnesses pointed to where the suspect went.
Other law enforcement established a perimeter, he said, and the suspect was found nearby in a car. The suspect fired shots from the vehicle in the direction of Logsdon, who was among the first on the scene. The shots struck Logsdon, the sheriff said.
The sheriff said Logsdon was able to return fire, shooting off at least three rounds. He said other deputies, who were coming in from different directions, also opened fire and the suspect was killed.
Gahler said authorities found a semi-automatic weapon in the vehicle. He said the initial report shows one of the weapons the suspect had was legally purchased in Pennsylvania in 1993.
He said the suspect did not want to be apprehended and knew he would be because of a warrant from Florida. He said the incident is still under investigation.
“It is our belief the because he knew of the warrant out for his arrest and what the ultimate outcome would be,” the sheriff said. “That’s the reason he took action.”
Gahler said the initial investigation has found that after a warrant for obstructing police was issued in October in Florida, Evans relocated to the Harford County area where he was currently living. The sheriff said Evans may have been living in a car that was in the restaurant parking lot.
Lynn Faulkner, 56, of Fallston, Md., said she and daughter were sitting about 15 feet away from Evans, eating brunch as the event unfolded.Lynn Faulkner, 56, of Fallston, Md., said she and daughter were sitting about 15 feet away from Evans, eating brunch as the event unfolded.
“The police officer came in,” Faulkner said. “I had my back to it. The officer sat down at the man’s table. I think he exchanged one sentence. That’s when he was shot and fell back in the chair.”“The police officer came in,” Faulkner said. “I had my back to it. The officer sat down at the man’s table. I think he exchanged one sentence. That’s when he was shot and fell back in the chair.”
Faulkner said Evans immediately ran out a back entrance of the Panera and around to the front of the building. Faulkner said a customer who had witnessed the shooting bolted after Evans as he fled and called a business partner, who alerted authorities to Evans’s location.Faulkner said Evans immediately ran out a back entrance of the Panera and around to the front of the building. Faulkner said a customer who had witnessed the shooting bolted after Evans as he fled and called a business partner, who alerted authorities to Evans’s location.
Faulkner said officers arrived on the scene almost immediately and put the Panera on lockdown. She said a customer tried to give CPR to the officer, who had been shot through the temple.Faulkner said officers arrived on the scene almost immediately and put the Panera on lockdown. She said a customer tried to give CPR to the officer, who had been shot through the temple.
“It was a horror. It was a horror,” Faulkner said. “Children were crying. Strangers that didn’t know each other were hugging. You don’t expect to take your daughter to brunch at Panera on a snow day and expect a sheriff to be shot and die.”“It was a horror. It was a horror,” Faulkner said. “Children were crying. Strangers that didn’t know each other were hugging. You don’t expect to take your daughter to brunch at Panera on a snow day and expect a sheriff to be shot and die.”
Gahler said the officer was intentionally shot. Faulkner said that Evans appeared disheveled and that she regularly saw him at the Panera restaurant. She said that Evans appeared to be homeless and that staff regularly took care of him and gave him food.
“I think the suspect took that action because he was wearing a police uniform,” Gahler said of the deputy who was shot. “He certainly targeted him.”
Gahler said that a deputy found Evans almost immediately, down the hill from the restaurant. Evans then shot that deputy.
The next two deputies who arrived then fired at the gunman, fatally wounding him. Both of those deputies have been placed on administrative leave while the department investigates the shooting. Faulkner said she heard four or five more shots ring out during that shooting.
Faulkner said Evans appeared disheveled and she had regularly seen him at the Panera restaurant. She said Evans appeared to be homeless and staff regularly took care of him and gave him food.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued a statement Wednesday night about the deputies’ deaths.Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued a statement Wednesday night about the deputies’ deaths.
“Today’s violence in Abingdon and the deaths of two Harford County sheriff’s deputies is nothing less than absolutely heartbreaking,” he said. “The First Lady and I send our most sincere thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the brave deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice today for the community they selflessly served.“Today’s violence in Abingdon and the deaths of two Harford County sheriff’s deputies is nothing less than absolutely heartbreaking,” he said. “The First Lady and I send our most sincere thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the brave deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice today for the community they selflessly served.
“It is my hope that their commitment and dedication to law enforcement and protecting others will be remembered and will forever serve as an inspiration to others,” Hogan said.“It is my hope that their commitment and dedication to law enforcement and protecting others will be remembered and will forever serve as an inspiration to others,” Hogan said.
Gahler said that no one else inside the Panera, which was full of lunchtime diners, was hurt. He said authorities interviewed everyone in the restaurant before allowing them to leave. Gahler said that no one else inside the Panera, which was full of diners, was hurt. He said authorities interviewed everyone in the restaurant before allowing them to leave.
He said that the sheriff’s office has had contact with Evans before, but he did not provide further information.He said that the sheriff’s office has had contact with Evans before, but he did not provide further information.
Maryland lost three officers in the line of duty in 2015, and Virginia lost one, according to statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.Maryland lost three officers in the line of duty in 2015, and Virginia lost one, according to statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
The organization, which said that 124 officers nationwide died in the line of duty in 2015, said that 42 of those officers were shot. Traffic fatalities accounted for 35 of the remaining deaths. The organization, which said that 124 officers nationwide died in the line of duty in 2015, said that 42 of those officers were shot. Traffic fatalities accounted for 35 of the deaths.
Jennifer Jenkins and Julie Tate contributed to this report. Jennifer Jenkins, Julie Tate and Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.