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Video released in Reisterstown police shooting

Baltimore County police identify officer, man shot

Baltimore County police release private surveillance video that captured the officer-involved shooting on Sept. 23 in Reisterstown, Maryland.
Baltimore County police release private surveillance video that captured the officer-involved shooting on Sept. 23 in Reisterstown, Maryland.
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Video released in Reisterstown police shooting
Baltimore County police identify officer, man shot
Baltimore County police have released surveillance video showing a police-involved shooting in Reisterstown on Wednesday.Police release surveillance video: WARNING (Graphic Video)Authorities said the officer shot a man outside the Nature Care Pharmacy on Main Street just before 5 p.m.Police identified the officer Friday as Officer Earomirski, who is assigned to Precinct 3/Franklin. He began his service with the Baltimore County Police Department on Dec. 10, 2005. This is the first time he has been involved in a shooting.The man shot by the officer was identified Friday as Keith Harrison McLeod, 19, of Washington."There was a confrontation behind these businesses and there were multiple shots fired," Baltimore County police spokeswoman Elise Armacost said. "As a result of the shooting, the suspect has died."Investigators said McLeod gave a store employee a forged prescription for Promethazine plus codeine, a narcotic cough syrup often combined with alcohol to produce a high. The pharmacist called police.Officials said a foot chase began when an officer arrived, which led a confrontation. Police said the video shows McLeod "aggressively advancing on a single officer, who retreats with his gun drawn." Police said the video showed McLeod reaching around his back as if reaching for a weapon and pointing his hand at the officer."His hand is in his waistband the entire time. He never removes his hand from the waistband until the moment when he whips his hand out and points it to the officer as if he is wielding a weapon," Armacost said.Witnesses told detectives that they heard Officer Earomirski repeatedly giving McLeod commands to stop, and that they heard McLeod shouting profanities at the officer."This footage does not contain any audio. Witnesses to this incident have advised us that the officer pleaded with the individual saying, 'You don't want to this. You don't want to do this. You don't want to do this.' The suspect, on the other hand, according to the witnesses and others, repeatedly used profanities, screamed and yelled at the officer, 'I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you,'" Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson said. "My police officer had one second to make a life or death decision."Police said Officer Earomirski fired three shots, striking McLeod. He was taken to Northwest Hospital, where he died."The officer fires at the moment when the suspect whips his hand around as if he is pulling a weapon out," Armacost said.A weapon was not found.The officer, who was not hurt, is on administrative leave. Meanwhile, police called the shooting justified and said they released the video only after Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger reviewed it.Johnson said McLeod's family has reached out to an attorney.Refresh wbaltv.com and our app, and watch 11 News for late-breaking updates.

Baltimore County police have released surveillance video showing a police-involved shooting in Reisterstown on Wednesday.

Police release surveillance video: WARNING (Graphic Video)

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Authorities said the officer shot a man outside the Nature Care Pharmacy on Main Street just before 5 p.m.

Police identified the officer Friday as Officer Earomirski, who is assigned to Precinct 3/Franklin. He began his service with the Baltimore County Police Department on Dec. 10, 2005. This is the first time he has been involved in a shooting.

The man shot by the officer was identified Friday as Keith Harrison McLeod, 19, of Washington.

"There was a confrontation behind these businesses and there were multiple shots fired," Baltimore County police spokeswoman Elise Armacost said. "As a result of the shooting, the suspect has died."

Investigators said McLeod gave a store employee a forged prescription for Promethazine plus codeine, a narcotic cough syrup often combined with alcohol to produce a high. The pharmacist called police.

Officials said a foot chase began when an officer arrived, which led a confrontation. Police said the video shows McLeod "aggressively advancing on a single officer, who retreats with his gun drawn." Police said the video showed McLeod reaching around his back as if reaching for a weapon and pointing his hand at the officer.

"His hand is in his waistband the entire time. He never removes his hand from the waistband until the moment when he whips his hand out and points it to the officer as if he is wielding a weapon," Armacost said.

Witnesses told detectives that they heard Officer Earomirski repeatedly giving McLeod commands to stop, and that they heard McLeod shouting profanities at the officer.

"This footage does not contain any audio. Witnesses to this incident have advised us that the officer pleaded with the individual saying, 'You don't want to this. You don't want to do this. You don't want to do this.' The suspect, on the other hand, according to the witnesses and others, repeatedly used profanities, screamed and yelled at the officer, 'I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you,'" Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson said. "My police officer had one second to make a life or death decision."

Police said Officer Earomirski fired three shots, striking McLeod. He was taken to Northwest Hospital, where he died.

"The officer fires at the moment when the suspect whips his hand around as if he is pulling a weapon out," Armacost said.

A weapon was not found.

The officer, who was not hurt, is on administrative leave. Meanwhile, police called the shooting justified and said they released the video only after Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger reviewed it.

Johnson said McLeod's family has reached out to an attorney.

Refresh wbaltv.com and our app, and watch 11 News for late-breaking updates.