VIDEO: Maryland Officer's Death Believed Caused by Another Officer's Round
Video: Maryland Officer's Death Believed Caused by Another Officer's Round
A Washington, D.C.-area police officer is believed to have died from a round fired by another officer in a shooting brought on by a Maryland man's attempt at a filmed suicide by cop, police said Monday.

A Washington, D.C.-area police officer is believed to have died from a round fired by another officer in a shooting brought on by a Maryland man's attempt at a filmed suicide by cop, police said Monday, reports the New York Daily News .
Michael DeAndre Ford, 22, and his brothers Malik Ford, 21, and Elijah Ford, 18, plotted to film their eldest brother firing on civilians and police outside a Landover, Md., police station Sunday afternoon until he could be shot and killed, according to the Prince George's County Police Department.
His brothers captured his last will and testament on their cell phone video moments before the shooting and callously let the shooting unfold in front of them with their cameras rolling, police said.
Officer Jacai Colson, 28, arrived at the station around 4:30 p.m. wearing plainclothes while driving an unmarked car and "found himself in the middle of a gunfight," said Police Chief Hank Stawinski. Colson showed "extreme heroism" by returning the shooter's fire to attract his attention and allow other officers to take out the gunman.
Yet circumstantial evidence revealed Monday that the round that killed Colson, who was serving in his fourth year with the department, was possibly friendly fire, Chief Hank Stawinski said at a news conference Monday night. He said it was possible the other cops mistook their fellow officer, who was dressed for undercover duty, for another gunman.
Police officials said at a Monday evening news conference that an autopsy showed Colson, a plainclothes narcotics officer, was accidentally shot by another officer when he drove up during the attack at the Landover station, reports the Baltimore Sun . "We believe the fired round that led to Det. Colson's death was fired by one of his fellow Prince George's County police officers," Stawinski said.
Police captured all three brothers, and the eldest one - who relatives have said is schizophrenic - was in stable condition at a hospital Monday afternoon.
More Patrol
Tips for Watching the Hands
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
2026 Ford Pro™ Police & Special Service Vehicles Guide is Available for Download
Ford Pro™ meets the needs of law-enforcement agencies
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Axon
Join POLICE as we visit with Abi Stock, of Axon, to learn about the company’s latest technology offerings, such as Axon Assistant, Form One, and the DFR integration with Skydio.
Read More →
