Murdered Baltimore cop was set to testify in police corruption case, shot with own gun
— -- As the investigation into the murder of Baltimore Police Detective Sean Suiter continues, Police Commissioner Kevin Davis revealed during a press conference on Wednesday evening that Suiter was shot with his own gun and he was set to testify in a police corruption case the next day.
Suiter, 18-year veteran officer, was gunned down on Nov. 15 in West Baltimore while conducting a follow-up on a homicide investigation. He sustained a close-contact gunshot wound to the head.
During the press conference, Davis confirmed that Suiter was set to testify in an unspecified case against officers who were indicted in March. Davis said that the U.S. attorney's office and the special agent in charge of the FBI's Baltimore field office assured him that Suiter was not a target in any ongoing criminal investigation.
"There is no information that has been communicated to me that Detective Suiter was anything other than a stellar detective, great friend, loving husband and dedicated father," Davis said.
Evidence found on Suiter's clothing, in addition to body camera video, indicates that there was a struggle between the officer and his killer, authorities said.
On the night of the shooting, there was a radio transmission by Suiter that lasted only a few seconds before he was killed, indicating he was in distress, Davis said. Also, Suiter's partner was confirmed to be nearby at the time of the shooting and can be seen on private surveillance video calling for help.
Davis said that, despite the timing of the shooting one night before Suiter was set to testify, the evidence does not indicate any conspiracy. Police believe the officers approached a suspicious individual, a struggle ensued and Suiter was shot.
The Baltimore Police Department still does not have a clear description of the suspect, other than he was an African-American man wearing a black coat with a white stripe.
"We will continue to follow the evidence in this very important case," Davis said. "I owe it to the Suiter family and the BPD to pursue every investigative lead and to examine every piece of evidence to determine exactly what happened."
A reward for information leading to an arrest has grown to $215,000.
