St Patrick’s Day shooting in Prince George’s County: Followup I

March 18, 10:05 AMOakland Crime ExaminerAndrew Harrison

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Courtesy of Grendelkhan.

More details are trickling out concerning a controversial early morning shooting involving a 26-year-old man and police officers outside of a Prince George’s County liquor store on St. Patrick’s Day.

As predicted, the Prince George’s County Police Department rushed out a press release regarding the shooting. According to the Police Department’s Major Andrew Ellis, officers responded to a call of a man with a gun inside the Holiday Liquors Bar and Restaurant at 3173 Branch Avenue in Hillcrest Heights, MD.

The officers who arrived at the scene found suspect Nicholas A. Howard of the 1800 block of Q St, SE. As they checked him for weapons, Howard allegedly drew a .40 caliber handgun and fired at the officers. The officers fired back, striking him in the abdomen.

Howard managed to get back into the bar, where a hostage situation seems to have transpired. After thirty minutes, whatever hostages Howard might have had were released, and he emerged from the establishment and fired again at the police.

Local media reports suggest that Howard was fired at more than 90 times in the intense volley of gunfire that followed. He died at the scene; nobody else was hurt.

Following the incident, twelve Prince George’s County Police Officers and two Maryland Park Police Officers were placed on administrative leave, as per standard operating procedure whenever an officer discharges a firearm in the line of duty.

Examiner.com will continue to follow the incident as more details arise. View previous coverage here.