BOWIE, Md. — Maryland authorities say a call for a two-vehicle crash turned deadly when an off-duty DC Police officer shot and killed a man Wednesday evening in Prince George’s County.
The events began unfolding at around 5 p.m. when Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers responded to a call for a two-vehicle crash in the area of Crain Highway and Village Drive. Police say one of the drivers then escaped on foot in an unknown direction.
Shortly before 6 p.m., MSP troopers responded to a shooting in the area of Crain Highway and Trade Zone Avenue, just three miles from the crash scene.
According to the preliminary investigation, an off-duty DC Police lieutenant, identified as Daren Jones, was in the area in his marked patrol car when he spotted a pedestrian on the roadway in the area of Crain Highway and Trade Zone Avenue and called for assistance. The pedestrian was identified as Ian Tilton, 28, of Annapolis.
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Then an officer from the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) arrived on the scene to offer assistance, at which point Tilton pulled out a knife and lunged at him. MSP say the officer attempted to deploy his stun gun, but it was ineffective, according to police. Jones then shot Tilton with his agency-issued firearm.
An MSP trooper from the aviation command arrived on the scene to help Prince George’s County EMS with rendering aid to Tilton. According to authorities, he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigators believe these two incidents are connected. Maryland State Police is the agency leading the investigation.
Northbound lanes of Crain Highway between Queen Anne Road and Trade Zone Avenue were closed due to the investigation. Roads were back open to traffic by Thursday morning.
The investigation is ongoing; check with WUSA9 for updates.
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