Andy Zieminski, The Examiner
2007-04-06 07:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

Two off-duty Baltimore police officers shot and killed a man during an attempted robbery of a South Baltimore nightclub early Thursday morning.

Two men armed with a shotgun and a semi-automatic handgun entered Fantasies Nightclub at 5520 Pennington Ave. at around 2 a.m., police spokesman Troy Harris said.

One of the men fired a shot into the air before announcing a robbery.

The officers, who had finished a shift at midnight and were visiting the club as patrons in plainclothes, returned fire with their service weapons, Harris said.

One gunman was pronounced dead on the scene, while the other was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with gunshot wounds to the hand and arm. Harris said the injured gunman had been wearing body armor.

No other injuries were reported.

This is the second time in 2007 that Baltimore police have shot and killed someone.

The two officers have been placed on routine administrative duty until the conclusion of the investigation, Harris said. The names of the officers and the gunmen had not been released as of Thursday afternoon.

On its Web site, Fantasies bills itself as an all-nude adult club. A person who answered the phone at the club referred questions to the police.

azieminski@baltimoreexaminer.com