Bodycam video shows chaos as Baltimore police fires 24 rounds in deadly shootout
Baltimore Police shared body-worn camera video from a shootout with officers that killed 26-year-old Jai Marc Howell on May 12.
The exchange of gunfire in the 4600 block of York Road occurred after officers tried to approach Howell.
Howell led officers on a chase and pulled out a handgun, firing shots at the officers and hitting a police car. He was pronounced dead at a hospital after being shot by police.
Preliminarily, police told WJZ Investigates they fired 24 rounds at Howell, who they believe fired twice at an officer inside a police SUV.
Baltimore Police bodycam video
The police bodycam video begins with Howell already running from police.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the encounter started when officers approached a group of people standing on the sidewalk, and Howell began to run.
In the video, you can hear a detective yelling as he chases after Howell, "You better put it down. I'm gonna shoot you, bro. I'm gonna shoot you, bro. You better put it down, bro. You better put it down, bro. I'm going to shoot you. Put it down. Put it down."
Officers were behind Howell on foot and ahead of him in an SUV that drove over the sidewalk to block Howell's path.
"We believe Howell fired first at Sgt. Wallace, who was trying to cut off his path in the vehicle, striking the vehicle twice," Worley said.
Police highlighted a video of what they said was a Polymer80 ghost gun in Howell's hand with an extended magazine.
Police showed a picture of that same weapon recovered from the scene.
WJZ Investigates asked Commissioner Worley about the initial encounter.
"You don't need probable cause to walk up and talk to someone," Worley said. "You can walk up and talk to anyone you want. They don't have to talk to us. But, as you saw, as soon as the officers exited their vehicle, he took off running and pulled a weapon."
Commissioner Worley told Investigator Mike Hellgren, "I don't know what they saw, but they saw something that they wanted to speak to the individual. They may have known him from past encounters."
Police released video from the body-worn cameras of three officers. The video shows an officer ducking during the chaotic scene.
Private surveillance video has also been turned over to the office of Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, whose office investigates all deadly shootings involving officers under Maryland law.
Ghost guns in Baltimore
The city sued Polymer80 and won a settlement of more than $1 million last year.
Among the terms of that settlement:
- Permanently prohibits Polymer80 from advertising in Maryland or selling ghost guns to Maryland residents
- Polymer80 must ban its dealers in nearby states from selling ghost guns to Maryland residents
- Cease all customer support in Maryland
- Polymer80 is required to provide quarterly reports to the city documenting all sales of ghost guns in neighboring states.
Wanted on a warrant
Commissioner Worley said Howell was wanted on an attempted murder warrant out of Baltimore County.
"I'm not sure if they knew he was wanted on the attempted murder warrant," Worley said of the officers. "We really haven't had a chance to interview them yet."
Howell's family responds
Howell was raised by his great-aunt Beverly, who adopted him. His family is currently raising money online to pay for his funeral.
Beverly, who asked that her last name not be used, told Hellgren she left a meeting with police on Thursday, "traumatized."
"To me, he was my everything, you know, my heart," Beverly said. "He was not a bad person, but he had issues like a lot of young folks out here these days and time. He was a loving person. He had a good heart. Now he's gone, but he's going to be well missed. It's just like too much for me to bear right now."
Beverly questioned the police response.
"A lot that they could have done differently," Beverly said. "I mean, they could have shot him to disarm him or whatever. I just don't think it should have happened to the point where now he's gone."
Thunder Robinson, who grew up in the community and ran a boxing gym, told WJZ after the shooting that it was "senseless."
She said she had known Howell since he was young.
"As time went on and as he grew, I mean, he has gotten lost," Robinson said. "He got lost in the system of Baltimore with not having any place and anything to help him see in life to try and do something. They have no programs over here. They have nothing to offer the kids in this neighborhood."
Robinson added. "When I'm saying he got lost, I'm saying he had no other option but to live on the streets. He had his godmother, who was helping him and trying to support him and everything, but as he grew and graduated and tried to graduate, there was no place for him to go but on the streets with the young men that were out here doing things."
"We pay for our men in blue to defend us, not to kill us," Robinson continued.
Baltimore Police officers on leave
The officers are on routine administrative leave.
One officer was involved in a past use-of-force incident in 2018, but it was found to be justified, police said.
No officers were injured in the incident involving Howell. They are receiving mental health support as needed, police said.
The attorney general's office identified the officers as Detective Enger Jimenez, a four-year veteran of the department, Detective Steven Foster, an 11-year veteran of the department, and Detective Tony Tiburzi, a five-year veteran of the department.
Specialized unit
The officers are part of the Northern District Action Team.
Every district has at least one action team made up of a sergeant and five or six officers, the police commissioner said.
"Their job is to go out and deal with the most violent criminals they have in the district. In this case, they were patrolling York and Cold Spring," Worley said.
The area is no stranger to the commissioner.
"They got out to address the situation," Worley said. "They saw him. That area of York and Cold Spring has historically been an area of violence and drug activity that we've spent a lot of attention on, even back in 2019 when I was the captain in the Northern. They got out to speak to him, and he took off running and pulled his weapon, and tried to kill our officers."
