Two sheriff's deputies have died after a gunman opened fire in a crowded Panera restaurant in Abgindon, Maryland, on Wednesday.
[From article]
Two sheriff's deputies have died after a gunman opened fire inside a crowded Panera restaurant in Maryland.
David Brian Evans, 67, first fatally shot a sheriff's deputy in the head inside the restaurant in Abingdon at lunchtime on Wednesday, then killed the other deputy in a shootout later, authorities said.
The suspect was also killed in the exchange of gunfire not far from the Boulevard at Box Hill, the shopping center where the restaurant was located, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said.
Remarkably, no bystanders were hurt.
Police have not released a motive for the shooting, but the sheriff said he believed the first deputy who approached the gunman was shot 'because he was wearing a uniform.'
[. . .]
Evans had warrants out for his arrest in Harford County and Florida, where he was accused of assaulting a police officer and fleeing and eluding.
Gahler said a loaded handgun was recovered from him.
The slain officers were described as a 30-year veteran and the other a 16-year veteran.[. . .]
A 15-year-old girl, who witnessed the initial shooting inside the sandwich shop, said she had been in a booth with her mother just 10 feet away when the terror unfolded.
Sophia Faulkner said she almost sat right next to the gunman – but instead, she and her mother chose a booth a little further away because the man appeared 'sketchy' and disheveled.
He was sitting in the back and hadn't ordered any food, she said. A sheriff's deputy arrived at the restaurant at 11.46am to check on a report about someone causing a problem.
Evans had warrants out for his arrest in Harford County and Florida, where he was accused of assaulting a police officer and fleeing and eluding.
Gahler said a loaded handgun was recovered from him.
The slain officers were described as a 30-year veteran and the other a 16-year veteran.[. . .]
A 15-year-old girl, who witnessed the initial shooting inside the sandwich shop, said she had been in a booth with her mother just 10 feet away when the terror unfolded.
Sophia Faulkner said she almost sat right next to the gunman – but instead, she and her mother chose a booth a little further away because the man appeared 'sketchy' and disheveled.
He was sitting in the back and hadn't ordered any food, she said. A sheriff's deputy arrived at the restaurant at 11.46am to check on a report about someone causing a problem.
[. . .]
The deputy tried to talk to the man, who was apparently known to workers there. The deputy sat down beside him, asked how he was doing and the man shot him in the head.
'I saw him fall back out of his chair and the blood started coming out,' Faulkner said.
'I didn't know how to process it. My mom said, 'What's going on?' and I said, 'Get down, someone just got shot.'
She said 'everyone started screaming' after the gunshot and children — out of school because of snowfall — were running around.
'I was freaking out so much and everybody was running to one side of the store. Families were huddling together. I didn't really know what was going on,' she said.
'You see this stuff online and in movies and on TV when it happens, but you never think you're going to go out to lunch one day with your mom and it's just going to happen.'
Her mother, Lynn Faulkner, a registered nurse, said that she recognized the man and believed he was mentally ill and in need of social services.
The deputy tried to talk to the man, who was apparently known to workers there. The deputy sat down beside him, asked how he was doing and the man shot him in the head.
'I saw him fall back out of his chair and the blood started coming out,' Faulkner said.
'I didn't know how to process it. My mom said, 'What's going on?' and I said, 'Get down, someone just got shot.'
She said 'everyone started screaming' after the gunshot and children — out of school because of snowfall — were running around.
'I was freaking out so much and everybody was running to one side of the store. Families were huddling together. I didn't really know what was going on,' she said.
'You see this stuff online and in movies and on TV when it happens, but you never think you're going to go out to lunch one day with your mom and it's just going to happen.'
Her mother, Lynn Faulkner, a registered nurse, said that she recognized the man and believed he was mentally ill and in need of social services.
[. . .]
'I've seen him there frequently, and I've seen him at areas of the library,' she said. 'He's definitely in need of mental health care, and he never should have had a gun.'
'He knew what he was doing, because he shot right for the head,' she continued.
'Apparently, the policeman tried to come up to him, 'Hi, how are you doing,' - he's living in this store - and, 'Can you try to move on?' or 'Why are you here today?' and that's when he immediately pulled out the gun and shot him.'
The gunman fled and witnesses gave officers a description of him and told them which way he was headed, the sheriff said.
After at least one deputy caught up with him, shots were exchanged. The deputy was left severely wounded and the suspect dead, the sheriff said.
'I saw two women and a child run from Panera to our back door. They were hysterical. They said they heard gunshots,' said bartender Mike Davis, who was working at the Ocean City Brewing Co.'s Taphouse.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3441041/Maryland-sheriffs-office-Deputies-involved-shooting.html
Gunman shoots two cops dead in 'ambush' at crowded Maryland Panera restaurant after targeting them because of their uniforms
David Brian Evans, 67, shot a sheriff's deputy in Panera Bread in Abingdon
The officer had responded to a report that Evans was causing a problem
The deputy had tried to talk to Evans, who shot him in the head and fled
Another deputy tracked the fleeing shooter down and a gunfight broke out
Second deputy was also severely injured before the gunman was killed
Slain officers were described as a 30-year veteran and a 16-year veteran
Police have not released a motive, but the sheriff believes first deputy was shot because 'he was wearing a uniform'
By KHALEDA RAHMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and ASSOCIATED PRESS
PUBLISHED: 14:39 EST, 10 February 2016 | UPDATED: 21:12 EST, 10 February 2016
'I've seen him there frequently, and I've seen him at areas of the library,' she said. 'He's definitely in need of mental health care, and he never should have had a gun.'
'He knew what he was doing, because he shot right for the head,' she continued.
'Apparently, the policeman tried to come up to him, 'Hi, how are you doing,' - he's living in this store - and, 'Can you try to move on?' or 'Why are you here today?' and that's when he immediately pulled out the gun and shot him.'
The gunman fled and witnesses gave officers a description of him and told them which way he was headed, the sheriff said.
After at least one deputy caught up with him, shots were exchanged. The deputy was left severely wounded and the suspect dead, the sheriff said.
'I saw two women and a child run from Panera to our back door. They were hysterical. They said they heard gunshots,' said bartender Mike Davis, who was working at the Ocean City Brewing Co.'s Taphouse.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3441041/Maryland-sheriffs-office-Deputies-involved-shooting.html
Gunman shoots two cops dead in 'ambush' at crowded Maryland Panera restaurant after targeting them because of their uniforms
David Brian Evans, 67, shot a sheriff's deputy in Panera Bread in Abingdon
The officer had responded to a report that Evans was causing a problem
The deputy had tried to talk to Evans, who shot him in the head and fled
Another deputy tracked the fleeing shooter down and a gunfight broke out
Second deputy was also severely injured before the gunman was killed
Slain officers were described as a 30-year veteran and a 16-year veteran
Police have not released a motive, but the sheriff believes first deputy was shot because 'he was wearing a uniform'
By KHALEDA RAHMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and ASSOCIATED PRESS
PUBLISHED: 14:39 EST, 10 February 2016 | UPDATED: 21:12 EST, 10 February 2016
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