Baltimore police shoot man who allegedly dragged officer with vehicle near Lexington Market

Baltimore police shot a 29-year-old man who allegedly dragged an officer with a vehicle that was awaiting a tow near Lexington Market on Saturday, according to Commissioner Richard Worley.

The shooting happened around 9:30 p.m. in the 300 block of N. Eutaw Street, where the officer had called for a tow truck for a vehicle with suspended and expired tags. The man then allegedly attempted to drive away.  

Worley said the officer suffered back and neck injuries and was taken to a hospital. The 29-year-old man was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

"The simple thing is to comply with the officer and not try to get in the car and drive away. Your license is revoked. You shouldn't even be driving," Worley said. 

Bystander video WJZ obtained shows a person wearing a pink tracksuit being taken out of a dark blue late-model Acura TLX and placed onto a stretcher. 

How the shooting unfolded

An officer had cited the vehicle for suspended and expired tags and was waiting for a tow truck when a man arrived. The man initially denied owning the vehicle before later saying it belonged to him.

Police said the officer allowed the man to retrieve his belongings before the tow truck arrived.

Worley said the man then got into the driver's seat while the officer approached the vehicle. A second officer was also arriving to prevent the vehicle from driving away.

According to Worley, the driver put the vehicle in drive and struck the officer. The officer ordered him to stop, but the man continued driving, dragging the officer a short distance. The driver then backed up and drove forward again before the officer fired at least three rounds into the vehicle, striking him.

Aftermath of the police shooting 

A crowd gathered at the scene, which Worley said required significant resources to control. 

The commissioner said there is body-worn camera video of the incident that is being reviewed. 

"From what I saw, the officer did exactly what we asked him to do," Worley said.