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| Undercover officer shot by fellow officer who perceived him as a suspect, chief says | Undercover officer shot by fellow officer who perceived him as a suspect, chief says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An undercover narcotics officer for Prince George’s County who came upon an ongoing gun battle Sunday outside a station was shot by a fellow officer who perceived him as a suspect, according to Police Chief Hank Stawinski III. | An undercover narcotics officer for Prince George’s County who came upon an ongoing gun battle Sunday outside a station was shot by a fellow officer who perceived him as a suspect, according to Police Chief Hank Stawinski III. |
| Stawinski said he expects to announce more details of the shooting of Officer Jacai Colson, 28, after a court hearing concludes Wednesday afternoon for two men accused of “callously” filming their brother engaging in the shooting spree. | |
| A Prince George’s County District Court judge ordered Malik Ford, 21, and Elijah Ford, 18, to continue to be held without bond at the hearing, which was briefly paused when one brother fainted during proceedings. | |
| Police say the brothers helped their older sibling — Michael DeAndre Ford, 22 — plot a shootout on a police station in Landover, Md., on Sunday. | Police say the brothers helped their older sibling — Michael DeAndre Ford, 22 — plot a shootout on a police station in Landover, Md., on Sunday. |
| Colson, who was in street clothes, died in the shootout as he and other officers responded. The younger Fords were videotaping their older brother on cellphones as he shot at cars, a passing ambulance and the front of the police station, police have said. Police have said Michael Ford intended to die in the gunfight. He was shot but survived. | |
| [Brothers filmed attack on police station that left officer dead, authorities say.] | [Brothers filmed attack on police station that left officer dead, authorities say.] |
| At a Monday news conference, Stawinski had said it was likely Colson had been shot by another officer and used the phrase “errant round” to describe the circumstances. | |
| Stawinski said Wednesday, that he had used “errant” because it was not clear Monday whether Colson had been hit by random fire or had been mistaken for a suspect. “At every turn I am not going to rely on circumstantial evidence,” Stawinski said Wednesday. | |
| Michael Ford was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Colson, a four-year veteran, and 24 other related counts in the incident. Malik and Elijah Ford face similar charges. | Michael Ford was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Colson, a four-year veteran, and 24 other related counts in the incident. Malik and Elijah Ford face similar charges. |
| At Wednesday’s bail review hearing, prosecutors said the younger brothers watched as Michael Ford shot and reloaded, firing more than 20 rounds during the gun battle with police. | |
| The family for the Ford brothers appeared in court asking the judge to be lenient. Michael Thomas called his children good kids who “did not pull the trigger.” | |
| “I’ve lost three sons in one shot,” Thomas said in court. | |
| During the hearing, one family member asked prosecutors what evidence they had that the brothers were involved with the shooting, prompting a public defender to stop her mid-comment. | |
| Michael Ford, who has a history of mental illness, recorded his last will and testament with Elijah Ford before Malik Ford drove the brothers to the police station, charging documents state. | Michael Ford, who has a history of mental illness, recorded his last will and testament with Elijah Ford before Malik Ford drove the brothers to the police station, charging documents state. |
| Then, about 4:30 p.m., Michael Ford shot at the doors of the police station attached to Prince George’s police headquarters, officials said. Ford aimed at officers coming outside of the station during a gun battle while Malik and Elijah Ford recorded the ordeal on their cellphones as they sat in a car, they said. | Then, about 4:30 p.m., Michael Ford shot at the doors of the police station attached to Prince George’s police headquarters, officials said. Ford aimed at officers coming outside of the station during a gun battle while Malik and Elijah Ford recorded the ordeal on their cellphones as they sat in a car, they said. |
| At one point, according to charge documents, police had approached the red car asking the younger Ford brothers where the shooter was. Malik Ford shouted that he did not know, even though cellphone video clearly shows his brother behind a police van, charging documents allege. | At one point, according to charge documents, police had approached the red car asking the younger Ford brothers where the shooter was. Malik Ford shouted that he did not know, even though cellphone video clearly shows his brother behind a police van, charging documents allege. |
| [Man arrested in police station gun battle described as troubled, mentally ill.] | [Man arrested in police station gun battle described as troubled, mentally ill.] |
| On Tuesday, a court commissioner rejected second-degree murder and handgun charges against Ford’s younger brothers. Court commissioners determine whether there is probable cause to hold suspects or offer pretrial release. Malik and Elijah Ford have been charged — and are being held without bond — with attempted first-degree murder, assault, conspiracy to commit murder and other charges. | On Tuesday, a court commissioner rejected second-degree murder and handgun charges against Ford’s younger brothers. Court commissioners determine whether there is probable cause to hold suspects or offer pretrial release. Malik and Elijah Ford have been charged — and are being held without bond — with attempted first-degree murder, assault, conspiracy to commit murder and other charges. |
| Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said Tuesday that even though police said that Malik and Elijah Ford did not fire a gun at the officers, felony murder charges would be “absolutely” appropriate because police said the brothers acted as accomplices. | Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said Tuesday that even though police said that Malik and Elijah Ford did not fire a gun at the officers, felony murder charges would be “absolutely” appropriate because police said the brothers acted as accomplices. |
| Prosecutors will present charges in the case to a grand jury, Alsobrooks said. | Prosecutors will present charges in the case to a grand jury, Alsobrooks said. |
| It is unclear when Michael Ford will appear in District Court as he was still in the hospital. | It is unclear when Michael Ford will appear in District Court as he was still in the hospital. |
| At a news conference earlier this week, Stawinski praised Colson for his heroism, saying the officer drew Michael Ford away from the police station, giving Colson’s colleagues a tactical advantage to end the shooting. | At a news conference earlier this week, Stawinski praised Colson for his heroism, saying the officer drew Michael Ford away from the police station, giving Colson’s colleagues a tactical advantage to end the shooting. |
| Stawinski, however, said he could not explain what would have compelled the Ford brothers to plot and follow through with the attack on the police station and officers. | Stawinski, however, said he could not explain what would have compelled the Ford brothers to plot and follow through with the attack on the police station and officers. |
| “This is about nothing,” Stawinski said Monday. “It was unprovoked. Michael had a history of mental illness. But what is more troubling to me is that anybody could stand by so callously and do nothing.” | “This is about nothing,” Stawinski said Monday. “It was unprovoked. Michael had a history of mental illness. But what is more troubling to me is that anybody could stand by so callously and do nothing.” |