Family of Baltimore arabber killed in 2025 police shooting files wrongful death lawsuit against officers

The family of an arabber who was shot and killed by police in Baltimore's Upton neighborhood in 2025 is suing the officers, alleging wrongful death, their attorney announced Wednesday. 

Bilal "BJ" Yusuf-Muhammad Abdullah Jr., 36, was shot by police around 7:30 p.m. on June 17, 2025.  He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said three officers fired shots at Abdullah. One of the officers was shot in the foot by Abdullah, according to police.

The family's attorney says a civil action lawsuit is being filed. However, they are calling on the Maryland Office of the Attorney General to reverse its decision and file criminal charges against the officers.

As a well-known arabber in the community, Abdullah sold produce on a horse-drawn cart.

The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the officers violated the constitutional rights of Abdullah and violated the Maryland State Declaration of Rights. 

The Baltimore Police Department said it does not comment on pending litigation. 

Abdullah's family sues officers 

During a news conference on Wednesday, Abdullah's mother, Joy Alston, said that the officer involved in her son's death was also involved in another police shooting. 

The involved officer, identified as Omar Rodriguez, is a 7-year veteran with the Baltimore Police Department. He was also involved in the police shooting that killed 37-year-old Dwight Hawkins on Feb. 24 in East Baltimore, according to the Attorney General's Office. 

"I feel as though [Officer Rodriguez] needs to be removed from the force because this is his second altercation within six months," Alston said. 

Following Abdullah's shooting, Rodriguez was placed on administrative leave during an investigation. However, the AG's office declined to press charges against him, and he returned to duty in January, the police department confirmed. 

According to Alston, Baltimore Police officials gave the family three different "episodes" of what happened during Abdullah's shooting. 

"From what I'm understanding, my son was shot several times, and there's not even record of the one where he was shot in the top of his head," Alston said. "So if you were coming to defuse the situation and you were coming knowing that you had someone who had a gun, you were supposed to approach him accordingly, not the way he was approached."

Police release body-worn video

Baltimore police said officers fired 38 rounds during their encounter with Abdullah. Meanwhile, officers said Abdullah fired three shots.

Investigators released body-worn camera footage from the officers who shot Abdullah near the Upton Metro station.

The video shows Abdullah walking away from a police officer who approached him after getting out of an unmarked patrol car. Abdullah then started running, before the police said he pulled out a weapon from a cross-body bag. 

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said Abdullah fired shots while the officers still had their guns in their holsters.

From another angle, an officer ran to Abdullah. At that point, both officers had their weapons out. Police then highlighted the image of Abdullah with the weapon after he fell to the ground.  

The video released by police also included CitiWatch camera images that can be seen HERE. 

Family calls for justice

Abdullah's death has led to his family calling for justice and for the Baltimore Police Department to be held accountable. 

Taj Abdullah, BJ's brother, believes the entire situation did not have to happen the way it did. 

"Numerous times throughout multiple videos where you can see that these guys could have intervened and had a positive way of approaching these individuals with guns. However, they waited. Not only did they wait, they waited for an opportunity to chase, hunt them down and kill them," said Taj Abdullah.  

He continued, "If you're saying that what you're doing is justified, why not release all the proper information to our family members and allow us to grieve the way we want to grieve behind it." 

The family also protested six months after the shooting to protest the attorney general's report that declined to press charges against the officers.

"It really damaged our family," said Abdullah's sister, Joy Abdullah. "We can't sleep at night. This is our first holiday without our brother." 

The family did not dispute that Abdullah had a gun. However, they said he was not a threat to anyone. 

"All of us out here in Baltimore, we know the city we live in. We know what we got to do to survive here in the city. And I'm not saying it's right to carry a gun, but it's damn sure not right for them to approach us and hunt us and hunt us down the way they are or assume because of where we are and where we at," said Taj Abdullah. 

Officer involved in 2 deadly police shootings

Officer Rodriguez was one of the officers involved in a separate police shooting of 37-year-old Dwight Hawkins. Police said Hawkins was armed, and after leaving a liquor store, he was approached by an officer and then ran away.  

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said that officers repeatedly told the man to show his hands, but he continued running before he came face-to-face with a second officer, and he was shot.  

A gun was found at the scene. At least 16 shots were fired, but police have not said who fired all of the shots.

Hawkins family claimed he was targeted by police because of his prior criminal record.

"I'm not saying that we was the perfect family, or he was the perfect child," said Lorraine Hawkins, a family member. "We all have a past. He did have a past, but it was about change. They did not have to gun him down the way they did."