Management at an apartment complex in Abderdeen, Maryland, called police around 10.36am on Friday after resident Tyler J Winkler, 23 (pictured), allegedly threatened to kill an employee
A Maryland man is in critical condition after police shot him when the comb he was holding was mistaken for a knife.
The suspect, since identified as 23-year-old Tyler J Winkler, is currently in critical condition at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, reported WBAL.
Management at the Affinity Old Post Apartments complex where Winkler lives in Aberdeen called authorities around 10.36am on Friday after he threatened to kill an employee, Lt Will Reiber told the station.
Following this, Winkler entered a courtyard next to the property management office and made racially-offensive remarks to a resident, which caused the resident to go back inside their apartment.
Police said they received several reports that Winkler was armed with a ‘knife or edged weapon’ before arriving at the complex.
According to WBAL, the first responding officer radioed his colleagues to say that Winkler seemed to be under the influence and appeared to be holding a knife.
He asked for backup officers to come with a Taser. When backup arrived, they allegedly tried verbally to get Winkler to surrender.
He then entered a courtyard next to the property management office (pictured) and made racially-offensive remarks to a resident, which caused the resident to go back inside their apartment
When this didn’t work, an officer brought out the Taser – which caused Winkler, still clutching the object, to lunge at the officers.
That’s when an unnamed officer shot Winkler several times, although it is unclear how many bullets were fired.
Police later revealed in a statement that Winkler was holding a pick comb and had been using as a makeshift ‘shiv’, pointing the sharp end at officers.
The first responding officer said Winkler (left and right) appeared to be under the influence and armed, and asked for backup to arrive with a Taser. Backup tried to verbally convince Winkler to surrender. When this didn’t work the Taser was brandished, which was when Winkler charged at officers with the object in his hands
Winkler was shot several times by one officer and is currently in critical condition. Police later revealed that Winkler was not holding a knife but a pick comb (pictured)
Reiber said Winkler immediately collapsed on the ground and he was given medical aid by the police officers until he could be airlifted to the Shock Trauma Center.
‘I want to emphasize our officers exercised all options prior to firing,’ Reiber said.
He added that the officer who fired the gun was placed on administrative duty as is standard procedure while an investigation is carried out.
Aberdeen police officers do not wear body cameras and are therefore asking if anyone has footage from cellphones or home security cameras, reported WXYZ.
‘We want the public’s help in filling in any details that we don’t have at this time,’ Reiber said.
The Aberdeen Police Department is asking anyone with information to call them at 410-272-2121.