January 20th, 2024 by WCBC Radio
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision to not seek charges in the November 2023, fatal officer-involved shooting in Baltimore City.
On November 7, 2023, at approximately 12:35 p.m., District Action Team (DAT) officers with the Baltimore Police Department were on patrol in the 500 block of Brunswick Street when they observed a man they believed to be armed, later identified as Hunter Jessup. Officers briefly spoke with Mr. Jessup from their patrol car before he began running away from them. While running, Mr. Jessup drew a handgun from his waistband with his right hand and continued holding it after the officers commanded him to drop it. After one of the officers attempted to tackle him, Mr. Jessup turned and fired the handgun seven times at the officers. In response, four officers—Brandon Columbo, William Healey, Brittany Routh, and Justin Oliva—fired their handguns at Mr. Jessup, striking him several times. Mr. Jessup was taken to and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) began investigating the fatal shooting on November 7 and concluded its investigation on January 11, 2024. After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General has determined that none of the officers involved in the fatal shooting committed a crime under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute any of the officers in this case.