An off-duty Baltimore City police officer fatally shot an unarmed Marine 13 times outside a nightclub early Saturday. According to Baltimore City police, Tyrone Brown -- a 32-year-old Marine who has served two tours of duty in Iraq -- was shot 13 times at close range. He died a short time later.Baltimore police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the officer shot and killed Brown, saying Brown made advances toward a woman who was with the officer.
"After the advances, the officer and the individual exchanged words," Gugliemi said. "There was an argument, and the altercation turned physical. At that point, the officer pulled out his service weapon and fired multiple shots at our victim."
Brown's sister said she was there when her brother was shot. She said they were out at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday when they approached a group of people -- including the off-duty officer -- leaving Eden's Lounge, a nightclub in Mount Vernon.
"There was absolutely no physical contact," said La-Belle Scott, Brown's sister. "The supposed officer was not in any harm whatsoever. He (Brown) had his hands up to show he didn't have no weapons or anything."
Scott said her brother tried to diffuse the situation. "My brother tried to approach him, saying, 'Calm down, calm down. All this is uncalled for.' And, the next thing you know, several shots rang out. It was maybe eight or nine shots that rang out, and then, all I know is my brother is telling me, 'I'm shot,'" Scott said.
Brown's family said they're having a hard time understanding the whole situation, saying Brown wasn't a violent man. "It's just crazy that he would have to shoot 13 times at an unarmed man," Scott said. "He was a loving, caring person. (He) always looked out for everybody. He loved his kids. His family came first."
Brown is survived by a wife and two children. "Tyrone was the love of my life. I don't know how else to put it," said Brown's wife, Loren. "We just (have to) take it one step at a time, one day at a time and just put it in God's hands. That's all I can do."
As they gather to support each other, the family said they have one wish for the future. "I just hope justice will be served because my brother was supposed to walk me down the aisle next month. I'm getting married on July 24, and he would've walked me down the aisle and he's not here," Scott said.
The state's attorney's office will review the evidence and decide whether to file charges, which also is customary, he said.
The officer, who Guglielmi said is a 15-year veteran, has not been named. Police said they are investigating whether alcohol was a factor. The officer declined to take an alcohol breath test.
Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III has ordered his senior commanders to oversee the investigation. Guglielmi said the officer was being questioned, which is customary in shootings involving an officer.
Officers typically carry their service weapons while off-duty in Baltimore, but Guglielmi said they should not be carrying their guns if they intend to become intoxicated.
Looks like a dead Marine may well be handing a certain Baltimore cop his a$$ in short order. But we'll have to wait for all the details to emerge. Hard to imagine a cop losing his cool that bad in a relatively mundane situation like this.