BALTIMORE — An on-duty officer with the Baltimore Police Department was shot Thursday morning, according to Baltimore City's Fraternal Order of Police.
The officer was admitted at the University of Maryland Medical Center Shock Trauma around 2:15 a.m. with multiple gunshot wounds and is in critical condition following the incident, officials said at a news conference Thursday morning.
The officer, identified as Keona Holley, is on full life support with life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery, a Shock Trauma health official said.
According to Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, the details leading up to the shooting remain unclear. Harrison said police do know that Officer Holley was on duty near the 4400 block of Pennington Street in South Baltimore when a shooter approached her from the rear and began firing into the marked police car. He added that she was shot at a rested position, accelerated, and crashed further down the block. It's unknown if she had an opportunity to react.
Harrison said the injured officer was found around 1:30 a.m. after police responded to a call for a vehicle crash at the scene. Officers realized that the driver was a fellow officer assigned to the Southern District and began to render aid before transporting the officer to Shock Trauma, police said in a release.
"This was a very brazen act we will absolutely do everything in our power to find the person who did this and bring them to justice," Commissioner Harrison said.
Harrison said police believe the shooting appeared to be targeted.
Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation, Harrison said. Police have identified a vehicle of interest following the review of surveillance footage. The suspected vehicle was located and is in police custody. Police have also conducted interviews and received tips from the community.
Harrison said they are still looking for the shooter. Police are asking anyone who may have any information regarding this incident to contact 410-396-2466 or call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7lockup.
Metro Crime Stoppers, the FBI, ATF and Baltimore's Fraternal Order of Police have put up a combined reward of $59,000 for anyone who has information that may lead to an arrest in this case.
“My heartfelt prayers go out to the officer’s family and fellow officers who selflessly risk their lives to safeguard our neighborhoods and build a better Baltimore,” said Mayor Brandon Scott. “Whomever committed this heinous act is a coward who must be brought to justice for our officer, the officer’s family and our city. I have no doubt that our detectives will find those responsible, but we need anyone who has information to come forward and share it with us now. No family should be dealing with this pain, especially during the holidays. As a city, we owe it to our officer to quickly bring those responsible to justice.”