The Baltimore Police Department on Thursday identified the officer who shot an armed suspect during a traffic stop earlier this week as Jeffrey Melo, a member of the force since 2015.
Melo, 24, is currently assigned to the Western District, said Det. Jeremy Silbert, a police spokesman. He has not been involved in any prior officer shootings.
Police said Richard Gibbs Jr., 29, was pulled over about 10:35 p.m. Tuesday in the 1000 block of N. Monroe St., near the Western District station, because he was driving a car with an "obliterated" license plate. He stepped out of the BMW holding a loaded gun and was shot once, police said.
Gibbs was taken to a hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition. His condition has since improved, police said Wednesday.
The shooting of Gibbs was the 10th this year by city police and the first since July. Seven of those shootings occurred between March 31 and May 31.