Baltimore police identified the off-duty Baltimore police officer who fired his gun when he was stabbed in an apparent robbery Saturday night in South Baltimore as Rashard King, 27.
He was treated and released from the hospital Sunday, the department said.
King, a six-year veteran based out of the Southern police district, was walking to his car at about 10:45 p.m. after visiting a nearby establishment when a man approached at W. Cross and Race streets, police say. The man, who police described as 6-feet tall wearing a dark hoodie, indicated that he was robbing King.
Police say the suspect stabbed King in the upper thigh. King drew his gun and fired, police say. Police say it did not appear as if he hit the suspect, who fled.
It was King's first shooting, police said.
"Nice guy, good, hard-working officer, very dependable," said Capt. Brian Hance of the Southern police district.
Baltimore police Dep. Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez said Saturday night that police were canvassing the area for the suspect and witnesses. At the crime scene, located about two blocks from the heart of the busy Federal Hill bar district, police searched the ground near a gray car for evidence.
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