Photo source: NBC 4
UPDATE – March 15, 12:44 p.m. – PGPD has release photos of the three brothers involved in the shooting:
Photo source: ABC 7 – WJLA
Update- March 14, 5:38 p.m. — Three Prince George’s County brothers are in custody in connection with the ambush of our District III station that led to the fatal shooting of Police Officer First Class Jacai Colson on Sunday. The brothers are 21-year-old Malik Ford of the 9200 block of Allentown Road in Fort Washington and 18-year-old Elijah Ford of the 1800 block of Ryderwood Court in Landover. The third brother, the shooter, is 22-year-old Michael DeAndre Ford, also of the same address on Ryderwood Court. He remains hospitalized with what are considered non-life threatening injuries. All three suspects will be charged with second degree murder, six counts of attempted first degree murder, nine counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a felony and additional charges.
Preliminarily, detectives with our Criminal Investigation Division believe the gunman intended to die at the hand of a police officer on Sunday. We have cell phone video which captured the gunman dictating his last will and testament. That video was recorded just minutes before his two brothers drove him to our District III station.
There he opened fire at responding officers, at our building, at a passing ambulance and these two pictured vehicles. As the investigation progresses, additional charges will be brought against the three brothers regarding the victims in the vehicles. This violence was all captured on cell phone and surveillance video which is evidence in our case.
POFC Colson, a four-year veteran assigned to our Narcotic Enforcement Division, was on his way to the police station to meet an officer. He arrived right after Michael Ford began his shooting spree. POFC Colson left his unmarked cruiser and began exchanging gunfire with the shooter. A total of four officers discharged their duty weapons while trying to stop the shooter. Two additional officers also responded, but did not fire their weapons.
The involved officers are:
PO Bryan Melius, Regional Investigation Division
Cpl Jason Wells, Bureau of Patrol, District III
POFC Taylor Krauss, Bureau of Patrol, District III
Cpl John Wynkoop, Bureau of Patrol, District III
PO Matthew Scott, Bureau of Patrol, District III
POFC Jacai Colson, Narcotic Enforcement Division
An autopsy today revealed that POFC Colson was inadvertently shot by a fellow responding officer during the gun battle.
Following the ambush, Malik and Elijah Ford fled the scene. The driver, Malik, turned himself in to police at a nearby fast food restaurant shortly after the shooting spree. Elijah was taken into custody at his home in Landover shortly after his brother.
Funeral arrangements for POFC Colson’s line of duty death will be shared with our community when finalized. He is survived by his parents, James and Sheila Colson, and a younger brother, Jurea. He grew up in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania.
UPDATE – March 14, 11:40 a.m. – Reports state that a third suspect is now in custody in relation to yesterday’s fatal shooting of Officer Jacai Colson.
Update – March 14, Prince George’s County Police Department:
The Prince George’s County Police Department is grieving after one of our officers lost his life in the line of duty this afternoon. Four-year veteran Police Officer First Class Jacai Colson was assigned to our Narcotic Enforcement Division. The 28 year old detective was fatally wounded after exchanging gunfire with a suspect outside the District III station which is attached to our headquarters in Palmer Park.
The preliminary investigation reveals a suspect opened fire outside the front doors of the station around 4:30 pm. POFC Colson returned fire. Colson was shot and died a short time later. The suspect was also struck. He is expected to survive and remains under police custody at an area hospital. Charges are pending. A second suspect was taken in for questioning. Investigators are working to determine the motive in this case.
Our department is eternally grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of support from our community, the law enforcement family and our elected leaders.
UPDATE – 8:35 p.m. – Authorities have confirmed that the officer who was shot, 29 year old Jacai Colson, has succumbed to his injuries.
Due to the sensitive nature of this story, no comments will be allowed.
UPDATE – 6:55 p.m. – Officers have formed a prayer circle outside of the hospital where the wounded officer is being treated:
Photo source: NBC Washington
UPDATE – 6:42 p.m. – A second suspect is in custody. Police do not believe there are any more outstanding suspects.
UPDATE – 6:35 p.m. – I-95 at MD 202 police activity. All lanes now open, MD 202 and I-95 ramp to MD 202. Expect some delays
UPDATE – 6:07 p.m. – One suspect is in custody.
Landover, MD – March 13, 5:30 p.m. – A Prince George’s County police officer has been shot and critically wounded near PGPD District 3 headquarters by Barlowe Road and Route 202. The number of shooters has not been confirmed and the suspect(s) is/are still at large.
I-95 Beltway Inner Loop ramp to MD 202 is CLOSED due to police activity.
TheBayNet will provide updates and additional details as they become available. No comments will be allowed due to the sensitive nature of this story.
