Baltimore Police Release Body Camera Footage of Fatal Shooting of 17-Year-Old William Gardner

Baltimore police have released body camera footage of the fatal shooting of 17-year-old William Gardner, who was shot 12 times by officers as he fled with a firearm. The footage shows Gardner running away from officers, who repeatedly warn him to "get on the ground" or else "I'm going to shoot you." Three officers opened fire on Gardner when he pointed his gun in their direction, although he never fired his weapon.

The shooting, which occurred on Monday, is under investigation by both the Baltimore Police Department and the Maryland Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division. The three officers involved, detectives Thomas Smith, Shariff Kellogg, and Devon Lomax, have been placed on administrative leave.

According to police, Gardner was part of a group gathered on the sidewalk when officers stopped to engage them. One officer saw an indication that Gardner was armed, and he began to walk away, prompting officers to pursue him. The body camera footage begins as Gardner is being chased by one officer on foot and two in a vehicle driving alongside him.

Gardner appears to have a firearm in his right hand, and police point to a freeze-frame where they say he pointed the hand toward two officers exiting from a vehicle. The video shows that, almost simultaneously, three officers fired at him.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley declined to say whether he believed the officers had followed police protocol, saying the matter was still under investigation. However, he noted that the officers were chasing someone who was "clearly armed" and had first warned him to drop his gun.

The fatal shooting is the second so far in 2024, and it has sparked an investigation into potential policy violations. The Independent Investigations Division is expected to investigate the shooting and come to a decision about any criminal charges.