A trooper fatally shot a Carroll County man in Westminster on Monday morning, after the man stabbed the trooper, according to Maryland State Police.
According to police, a trooper was responding to a report of destruction of property in which the caller described a suspect and said he was armed with a knife. The trooper encountered a man at about 8 a.m. near Washington Road and Stoner Avenue in Westminster and attempted to talk to him. A struggle ensued and the man stabbed the trooper before the trooper shot the suspect, police said.
The man was taken to Carroll Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to state police. The trooper, a six-year veteran based in the Westminster Barrack, was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, according to Greg Shipley, a Maryland State Police spokesman.
The trooper — identified by state police on Wednesday as Trooper First Class Tyler Michael — was released early Monday afternoon, according to state police. He will be placed on administrative leave, which is standard when a trooper is involved in a shooting.
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/JSYPVCIZ2VBHFE3SLFNMYDQLY4.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/WCZUEZMCANDLXDQYEWULUU4FMA.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/VDBS6RR4OZB2XKH326IH7FEZEI.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/EEQ2ZMRJENGO7MD5P3HL5GMDTU.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/TAQQW5XILZAR7ORTZP6MF6ZZNY.jpg)
A preliminary investigation found that the trooper had been responding to a victim who reported vehicle damage, according to Shipley. A second victim whose tires were slashed gave the trooper a description of a white man carrying a blade.
The trooper then approached the suspect, a struggle ensued and the suspect stabbed the trooper at least once in the side, Shipley said. The trooper then fired at the man, though Shipley did not confirm the number of rounds the trooper fired.
Police identified the man who was killed as Michael J. D’Angelo, 34, of Westminster.
Westminster police said in a statement Monday that they were investigating a series of incidents of malicious damage to vehicle around the east side of the city of Westminster on several streets.The agency has received at least 15 reports since Sunday, according to the release.
Reported damage included broken windshield wipers, mirrors and antenna and slashed tires, police said.
“Police believe these incidents may potentially be related to an ongoing investigation currently being conducted by Maryland state police just outside of city limits,” according to the release.
Those with information about the vehicle damage are asked to contact Lt. Jeff Schuster of the Criminal Investigations Bureau at 410-848-3846. Individuals can also send a confidential text to 847411, keyword TIPWPD or contact the TIPS line at 410-857-8477.
The state police homicide unit was tasked with investigating the incident, Shipley said. State’s Attorney Brian DeLeonardo was at the scene Monday morning, Shipley said, and later findings will be passed to his office for review.
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation at the scene of the shooting Monday morning. A knife was located at the scene, state police said.
Breaking News Alerts
The investigation is ongoing. Maryland State Police internal affairs will also review the incident.
A maroon Cutlass Ciera with its hood up at the scene was a disabled vehicle and was unrelated to the shooting, Shipley said.