Baltimore police have released body cam footage of an officer-involved shooting that took place earlier this week. You can watch it above. We have to warn you, though, it contains graphic content.
Here’s the background: Detective David Kincaid Jr., a five-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, and other officers were tailing a vehicle in the city’s west side on Tuesday when suddenly, an individual later identified as 18-year-old Curtis Deal leapt out and started running. He had a gun in his right hand.
Kincaid’s body cam shows him giving chase. It then shows Deal starting to raise his gun at Kincaid, who fired seven shots in response, four of which hit Deal.
Deal was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.
“Mr. Deal pointed a loaded gun at a Baltimore police officer, period,” Commissioner Kevin Davis said at a press conference on Thursday.
As it turns out, Deal had an extensive criminal background. He was a person of interest in a homicide back in December. In January, he was arrested twice for gun violations and heroin possession. On Feb. 2, he was arrested yet again for the same thing. On Feb. 6, this past Monday, he got out on bail. The shooting happened the very next day.
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“These police officers chased a bad guy with a gun, and that takes bravery and courage, and it takes a commitment and dedication that I’m proud of, and I think our community should be proud of as well,” Davis said.
Police are still looking for the other people in the car with Deal when the incident occurred.
