Baltimore police shot and killed a Park Heights man armed with a semiautomatic handgun yesterday, a police spokeswoman said.

James Hill, 29, of the 3400 block of Royce Ave. died at 12: 30 p.m. at Sinai Hospital. He had been shot in the shoulder and stomach, Agent Angelique Cook-Hayes said.

Police received reports of a man with a gun in the 4900 block of Denmore Ave. about 10: 30 a.m. yesterday but did not find anyone fitting the description. They encountered Hill a short time later in the 3200 block of Woodland Ave., near Park Heights Avenue, Cook-Hayes said.

As one of the officers approached Hill to search him, he reached into his waistband and drew a gun, Cook-Hayes said. The officers fired, striking Hill twice, police said.

Officers recovered a loaded 9 mm handgun, police said.

Louise Turner, who was walking on Woodland Avenue, said she saw a man point a gun at police.

"Then they shot him, and he was just lying there on the ground," Turner said.

Officers Rodney Jones, a five-year member of the force, and Tony Ellison, a six-year member of the force, have been assigned to administrative duty pending an investigation, Cook-Hayes said.

Pub Date: 9/08/98