Suspect, officers in Dundalk shootout identified
Police: Blaine Robert Erb, 35, had lengthy criminal history
Police: Blaine Robert Erb, 35, had lengthy criminal history
Police: Blaine Robert Erb, 35, had lengthy criminal history
Authorities have identified an armed robbery suspect who was killed during a police shootout that seriously injured an officer and a bystander in Dundalk, Baltimore County police said.
Police have identified the suspect killed in the shooting on June 3 as Blaine Robert Erb, 35.
Police said officers were called around 2:49 p.m. for an armed robbery in progress on Dundalk Avenue near Avon Beach Road. Officers received information that a man robbed two people at gunpoint.
"I turned around and he was robbing someone," said a witness who asked to remain anonymous.
After he left a pizza flier in her screen door, the witness said she saw Erb point a gun in the faces of two young men, demanding money. She was on the phone with a 911 operator reporting the crime when Erb walked up to her. The operator advised the caller to act like she talking with a family member.
"He said, 'You didn't see anything did you?' (I said,) 'No, I didn't see anything,'" the witness told the I-Team.
The witness gave the 911 operator a description of Erb and his direction of travel.
"'Oh my God, he's about to get aboard the bus. What do I do?' She said, 'Stay on the phone and remain calm.' He said, 'Hey, I see you again.' I said, 'Yeah,' and put the phone down on my lap," the witness told the I-Team.
Erb got on an MTA bus at Belclare Road and Dundalk Avenue near the Logan Village Shopping Center, police said. Officers surrounded the bus and tried to apprehend the Erb before a shootout took place, but he was shot by police after he began firing at officers, police said.
"The officer leans, and she was like, 'He has a gun.' And when she said, 'He had a gun,' he shot one time," the witness told the I-Team.
The witness said Erb then ordered everyone off the bus. She noticed he had two guns,
one of which wouldn't fire. Two .40 caliber semi-automatic handguns, numerous gun magazines and ammunition were found next to the suspect's body, police said.
Erb left the bus, taking cover behind a white van and exchanging gunfire with police. Four officers fired, killing Erb.
Officer 1st Class Slocum, a 13-year veteran assigned to Precinct 12 in Dundalk, was shot twice in the lower extremity. She has been released from the hospital, police said June 13.
A 21-year-old woman was also injured in the lower body during the incident and is expected to survive her injury, police said.
Detectives determined the firearms were not reported stolen but continue to investigate and identify the last known registered owner, police said.
Police said Erb was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for an armed robbery. Investigators said Erb had a lengthy criminal history in Maryland and neighboring states, including charges for robbery, weapon violations, assault and theft. He also had an open warrant through Pennsylvania, police said.
Five bus passengers, who were on the bus when the incident began, have been identified by detectives, but authorities are trying to determine if there were more passengers, police said.
The four officers who fired rounds at the suspect from their service weapons have been placed on routine administrative leave. Police identified the four officers Friday as Officer 1st Class Carver of Precinct 12, a 5-1/2-year veteran; Officer 1st Class Leary of Precinct 12, a 3-1/2-year veteran of the force; and Officer 1st Class Minton of Precinct 12, a 14-1/2-year veteran of the force.
The fourth officer is a 17-year veteran of the force whose name will be withheld due to the officer's duty assignment.
None of the officers involved have any prior combat shooting involvement.
Police said at least one officer was wearing a body-worn camera at the time of the incident, but all visual and audio recordings will not be released yet and remain part of the ongoing investigation.