I agree with the judge's decision to hold Baltimore Police Officer Gahiji A. Tshamba without bail in the first degree murder of Tyrone Brown ("Officer 'did what he had to,' lawyer says," June 15).

First of all, Mr. Tshamba was an off-duty cop who could have gone about this situation differently. Secondly, you have witnesses who were with Mr. Brown and two independent witnesses who stated that Mr. Brown obeyed Officer Tshamba's wishes when he drew his weapon. Mr. Brown's hands were in the air when Officer Tshamba began to fire 13 rounds, 12 of which struck Mr. Brown. I believe there was no need to use deadly force. Finally, this wasn't Officer Tshamba's first time getting into an altercation where someone had gotten hurt. In 2005 Officer Tshamba was suspended for a week for getting into another altercation with a man while driving drunk which lead to him shooting and wounding that person.

I feel like officers are here to serve and protect, not to kill and ask questions later. So to me, Mr. Tshamba stating he was in fear of his life is just a cover up, and I do think justice should be served by Mr. Tshamba serving a life sentence.

Keona Dozier, Baltimore