Crime & Safety

Police: Man Threatened to Kill Officers and Himself

Police said a Baltimore man was not armed when he was killed by a Howard County police officer, but had previously threatened suicide.

The man who was shot and killed by a Howard County police officer on Thursday evening had threatened to kill himself and police officers, but was not armed when he was shot, according to police.

Percy Holland, 32, of 586 Preston Street in Baltimore, reportedly shouted at police "You're going to have to kill me or I'm going to kill you" and "I have a gun, I will use it," according to police.

Howard County Police located Holland at a Columbia home near the 9000 Block of Constant Course after Baltimore police issued a warrant for his arrest. Baltimore police were searching for Holland at gunpoint and assaulted her early on Thursday morning.

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The estranged girlfriend managed to escape and call 911, but, according to police, Holland fled with the couple's 2-year-old child.

At the home in Columbia, Holland reportedly exited the back door and made "furtive movements" toward one of the officers and the officer shot him, according to police.

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Police said Holland was later pronounced dead at Howard County General Hospital. It is unconfirmed how many times Holland was shot or where he was struck, according to police.

Police say family members reported Holland had previously made suicidal statements. When officers arrived at the house that evening, family members said Holland told them that police “weren’t going to take him alive.”

The 2-year-old child was not at the scene of the shooting, but was later located unharmed at the home of a relative, according to police.

Police said they did not find a gun at the scene.

Sgt. Justin Baker, 34, a patrol supervisor for the Howard County Police Department was identified as the shooter, according to police. Baker has been with the police department for 12 years. He has been placed on administrative leave during an internal affairs investigation, according to police.

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