NEWS RELEASE

HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF POLICE

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
For release: Nov. 8, 2011 Contact: Sherry Llewellyn sllewellyn@howardcountymd.gov

Police release additional details in police shooting

Howard County police are releasing additional details today about a shooting Monday in which officers shot an armed man who refused to drop his weapon. The suspect remains in critical condition at Shock Trauma. Police received a 911 call around 3 p.m. Monday that a man with a gun had fired shots in Hanover. Police responded and saw an unidentified man with a handgun walking near Loudon Ave. and Melrose Ave. The officers ordered the man to drop the weapon, but he did not comply. Officers continued to follow the man, who walked along railroad tracks to the back parking lot of an industrial park in the 7400 block of Hi Tech Drive. Officers repeatedly ordered the man to drop the weapon, but he continued to refuse. Officers fired shots at the suspect, striking him. The suspect has been identified as Jeffrey Dustin Nichols, 19, of the 6600 block of Grouse Rd. in Elkridge, Md. He suffered a total of eight gun shots to his torso and extremities. He is at Shock Trauma where he remains in critical condition. Investigators have determined his weapon was a pellet gun designed to look like a real, semi-automatic handgun. Prior to this incident, Nichols had been taken into custody by Howard County police last month following a stand-off with officers at his home. In that incident, which occurred Oct. 7, Nichols called 911 indicating that he needed assistance. Officers arrived and found Nichols outside brandishing a knife. According to the police report, Nichols made statements to officers that he wanted police to shoot him, to just do it and make it quick. Nichols ignored commands to drop the knife and began stabbing and cutting himself. Tactical officers took him into custody and transported him to the hospital for evaluation. A similar incident occurred at Nichols home on Sept. 11. Police were called to the residence for a subject cutting his arms with a knife. According to the police report, officers found Nichols bleeding and took him to the hospital for evaluation. Investigators have confirmed the following officers fired their weapons during Mondays incident: PFC Joshua Mouton, 4-year officer PFC Brian Klakring, 5-year officer PFC James Zammillo, 7-year officer PFC Bryce Buell, 10-year officer PFC Ryan Saulsbury, 10-year officer Sgt. Jayson Janowich,12-year officer One additional officer was involved in attempting to apprehend Nichols during this incident: PFC Ronald Mabe, 13-year officer The details of the case remain under investigation. All officers are on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure following a shooting incident. ###