COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Prince George's County Police Department are searching for two suspects after an officer-involved shooting at a Home Depot in College Park, Maryland.
It happened Thursday morning at the store in the 4700 block of Cherry Hill Road.
Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said in a press conference there have been previous incidents at this Home Depot.
"Early this morning a uniformed on-duty Prince George's County police officer was at the Home Depot for the community," Stawinski said. "We have had some challenges in this vicinity. We did have a separate robbery suppression team operation working in the area."
Stawinski said the officer was approached by management, and management identified two individuals in the store that they believed were in the process of stealing hundreds of dollars worth of items. According to Stawinski, one of the individuals is known by management and Prince George's County police as a "shoplifter." That person left the store.
A second person fled the store shortly after, with a shopping cart full merchandise and a crow bar in his hand.
The officer began pursuing the suspects which continued into the parking lot and to a parked car with the first individual and a third person.
"At this point the officer is confronting them. We do not have audio, but it's clear by her actions on video that she's issuing orders but she has drawn her weapon," Stawinski said. "At this point, the video shows the car coming into motion, we believe there is contact between the officer and that vehicle, although it is not hard contact we believe there is contact."
Stawinski said they're refining the video to verify there was contact between the vehicle and the officer. A shot was then fired.
"At this point, a single shot is fired," Stawinski said. "That shot does not strike the vehicle and does not strike any persons in that vehicle to the best of my knowledge right now."
The vehicle then fled the scene. Stawinski said the suspects previously obscured the licence plate. The first two suspects got out of the vehicle after it fled, according to Stawinski.
Nearby patrol officers spotted the vehicle on University Boulevard and made a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody. Police said they are looking for the remaining two suspects.
The officer involved in the shooting is a nine-and-a-half year veteran of the Prince George's County Police Department.
"I'm very proud of this officer, again, going beyond not just calling in, but pursuing, having a confrontation, but doing an excellent job," Stawinski said. "And she did try to intervene and prevent it."
No additional information has been released at this time.