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Witness describes chaotic Panera shooting that left two officers dead Witness describes chaotic Panera shooting that left two officers dead
(about 1 hour later)
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 Harford County sheriff’s office has 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.
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.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.
“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.”“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.”
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.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.
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. Gahler said Dailey was the first to arrive at the scene and went into the busy restaurant around noon Wednesday. The sheriff said Dailey was looking for Evans and went to the back of the restaurant where he “had a discussion” with him.
The suspect, Gahler said, “almost immediately produced a handgun” and shot the deputy in the head. Evans, Gahler said, “almost immediately produced a handgun” and shot the deputy in the head.
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. Another deputy started to give medical aid to Dailey. No one else was hurt inside the restaurant, and witnesses pointed to where Evans 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. Other law enforcement established a perimeter, he said, and Evans was found nearby in a car. Evans 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. 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 Evans 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. Gahler said authorities found a semi-automatic weapon in the vehicle. He said the initial report shows one of the weapons Evans 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. He said Evans 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.” “It is our belief that 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. According to the initial investigation, Gahler said, after a warrant for obstructing police was issued in October in Florida, Evans relocated to the Harford County area where he was living. The sheriff said Evans may have been living in a car that was in the restaurant parking lot.
Gahler said Evans frequented the Panera nearly every day. Gahler said if the call taker or deputy had known more about the details of the situation, “they probably would have taken a more tactical response.”
Jeremy Evans, David Evans’s son, told WBAL-TV in Baltimore that his mother initially called the Sheriff’s Office about Evans being at the Panera on Monday. Jeremy Evans said his father had wounded his mother in a domestic incident about 20 years ago. The couple is now divorced.
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.”
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.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.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued a statement Wednesday night about the deputies’ deaths. Gahler said Dailey was a former Marine, who was survived by his girlfriend, mother and two sons. A Baltimore Sun article listed Dailey as one of six sheriff’s deputies and civilians, who received awards for helping rescue a driver from a burning car in 2002.
“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. Gahler said Logsdon was a veteran of the Army and was survived by his wife and three children. Someone who answered the phone at his parent’s number declined to comment.
“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. On her Facebook page, Logsdon’s daughter offered a tribute to her father.
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. “To say I am proud of you is a complete understatement,” Bethany Logsdon wrote on her page. “I am so happy for the time I had with you. I am so thankful for all of the people that you protected. You are my best friend. You are my hero. I will love you forever. I am so sad our time got cut short. I am so angry that someone took this from us. I love you.”
He said that the sheriff’s office has had contact with Evans before, but he did not provide further information. Members of the Maryland General Assembly on Thursday remembered the deputies for their dedication and sacrifice at the opening of session.
“They served us, they were just two men doing their jobs. They did not see what was coming,” said Del. Richard K. Impallaria (R-Harford). “They were publicly executed for wearing a blue uniform.”
Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore County) called it an “absolutely gut wrenching” situation.
“There is no doubt that yesterday will go down as one of the toughest days in Harford County history,” he said.
Sen. Robert Cassilly (R-Harford) asked senators to remember the slain deputies when they consider legislation this session about police reform.
“Every encounter they have to look at as a possible fatal encounter,” Cassilly said. “Often that little bit of tension is misunderstood by us in society.”
The Maryland Senate adjourned in honor of the two deputies.
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 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, Julie Tate and Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report. Jennifer Jenkins, Ovetta Wiggins, Julie Tate and Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.