Police officer shot at precinct near University of Maryland in Baltimore County

A suspect shot a police officer at a precinct near the University of Maryland in Baltimore County (UMBC) before being neutralized, according to officials.

The Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD) said on Thursday afternoon that they were responding to reports of a shooting at the 900 block of Walker Avenue in Catonsville. The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Wilkens Precinct, in the area of the UMBC campus.

“This afternoon at approximately 2:30 p.m. an armed subject approached an officer assigned to our Wilkens Precinct and began to fire upon him,” said BCoPD in an update.

Police Chief Robert McCullough said that the lone male gunman walked inside the precinct lobby, then walked around outside, spoke to an officer, walked away, and then turned back, brandishing a handgun before firing several shots at the officer.

McCullough said that two officers in the parking lot of the precinct, including the one who was shot, fired back at the suspect, striking him. During the exchange of fire, the officer was shot in the chest. The chief added that the officer was wearing a vest.

The officer was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he is now out of surgery and “doing well,” according to a hospital spokesperson. His condition is guarded and under “very close” observation.

The unnamed suspect was transported to a local hospital and is in critical but stable condition. The motive behind the shooting is being investigated, but Police Chief McCullough said that it was “very clear” it was premeditated.