A man is dead Sunday after firing shots at police, injuring a Cecil County sheriff’s deputy, according to Maryland State Police.A 911 call around 3:40 p.m. Sunday brought a sheriff’s deputy to an apartment in the 100 block of Chesapeake Ridge Lane in North East to investigate a disturbance. Two state troopers who heard the call on the radio also responded to assist the deputy. When they arrived, they were met with gunfire, investigators said. “The two troopers, along with the sheriff’s deputy, approached the front door to the residence where they could hear arguing. During the argument, they heard someone say, ‘He has a gun,'” Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Jerry Jones said. “At this point, the troopers and the sheriff’s deputy entered the apartment through an unlocked front door. They were immediately fired upon by the suspect.””Policing is a dangerous profession, so our deputies know the dangers that we face day in and day out. Unfortunately, one of our deputies was shot today, which is what you don’t want to see happen,” Cecil County sheriff’s Lt. Michael Holmes said.One of the troopers returned fire and retreated to take cover with the injured deputy and the other trooper, police said.The suspect, later identified as Jonathan Balchunas, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Jones said Monday it’s not clear if the state trooper killed the suspect and that an autopsy will determine where the fatal shot came from.Troopers called to the other man in the apartment, the suspect’s father who called 911, to come out. Police set up a perimeter as the Cecil County special response team cleared the apartment.Jones said police found the suspect in the kitchen with a 9-mm firearm nearby with a laser sight pointed at the front door.Jones said police interviewed the father, who told police he and his son argued most of the day and prior to his calling 911. According to police, the father said his son loaded a 9-mm firearm, placed the barrel of the gun at him and said, “If the cops come, he is going to kill them too.”Jones said law enforcement has been to this residence before.”I’m just amazed. I never imagined that something like that would happen in our complex,” said Elon Baryosef, a neighbor. “I’ve lived here for four years, and there’s only decent people, and actually, police officers that are living in this development. That’s part of the reason I came to live here, and I’m just in shock.”The trooper involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave per procedure. The other trooper did not fire his weapon and was placed on administrative duty.Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams said the deputy was treated for a gunshot wound to his left arm at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware, and released.”We appreciate, certainly, the Maryland State Police assistance with this call. It’s vital, obviously, in this community to have the partnerships that we have for situations just as this to where it benefits the community and benefits the police officers that are out here working together,” Adams said.An investigation continues.
A man is dead Sunday after firing shots at police, injuring a Cecil County sheriff’s deputy, according to Maryland State Police.
A 911 call around 3:40 p.m. Sunday brought a sheriff’s deputy to an apartment in the 100 block of Chesapeake Ridge Lane in North East to investigate a disturbance. Two state troopers who heard the call on the radio also responded to assist the deputy. When they arrived, they were met with gunfire, investigators said.
“The two troopers, along with the sheriff’s deputy, approached the front door to the residence where they could hear arguing. During the argument, they heard someone say, ‘He has a gun,'” Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Jerry Jones said. “At this point, the troopers and the sheriff’s deputy entered the apartment through an unlocked front door. They were immediately fired upon by the suspect.”
“Policing is a dangerous profession, so our deputies know the dangers that we face day in and day out. Unfortunately, one of our deputies was shot today, which is what you don’t want to see happen,” Cecil County sheriff’s Lt. Michael Holmes said.
One of the troopers returned fire and retreated to take cover with the injured deputy and the other trooper, police said.
The suspect, later identified as Jonathan Balchunas, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Jones said Monday it’s not clear if the state trooper killed the suspect and that an autopsy will determine where the fatal shot came from.
Troopers called to the other man in the apartment, the suspect’s father who called 911, to come out. Police set up a perimeter as the Cecil County special response team cleared the apartment.
Jones said police found the suspect in the kitchen with a 9-mm firearm nearby with a laser sight pointed at the front door.
Jones said police interviewed the father, who told police he and his son argued most of the day and prior to his calling 911. According to police, the father said his son loaded a 9-mm firearm, placed the barrel of the gun at him and said, “If the cops come, he is going to kill them too.”
Jones said law enforcement has been to this residence before.
“I’m just amazed. I never imagined that something like that would happen in our complex,” said Elon Baryosef, a neighbor. “I’ve lived here for four years, and there’s only decent people, and actually, police officers that are living in this development. That’s part of the reason I came to live here, and I’m just in shock.”
The trooper involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave per procedure. The other trooper did not fire his weapon and was placed on administrative duty.
Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams said the deputy was treated for a gunshot wound to his left arm at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware, and released.
“We appreciate, certainly, the Maryland State Police assistance with this call. It’s vital, obviously, in this community to have the partnerships that we have for situations just as this to where it benefits the community and benefits the police officers that are out here working together,” Adams said.
An investigation continues.