City police turn over evidence in controversial shooting case

City police have turned over transcripts of interviews with about 20 witnesses and other evidence related to the Feb. 18 shooting of Edward Lamont Hunt by a city police officer at a Northeast Baltimore shopping center.

Hunt, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting, was shot twice in the back after being frisked by a city officer, police said.

Hunt was shot when he broke away from the officer after a lengthy field interview, witnesses said.

The officer told investigators Hunt broke away before he had finished frisking him.

Among the evidence turned over are video surveillance tapes taken from a nearby dollar store. The tape allegedly shows Hunt running away with officer in pursuit, gun drawn, just moments before the three shots were fired, sources said.

The FBI confirmed it was investigating the case after questions were raised about the shooting by family members and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. But the federal agency declined to provide details of the investigation.

No weapon was recovered from Hunt. But police officials initially said Hunt possessed drugs, yet they haven’t released details of what types of drugs they believe Hunt was carrying.

Hunt’s fiancee, Lakia Jeter, hired attorney E. Dwight Petitt to represent the family in a wrongful-death suit against the Police Department.

Police officials do not comment on cases involving pending litigation.

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com