Crime & Safety

Police: Suspect Attempted to Test Drive Car Before Shooting Officer

Stephon Prather is charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder and eleven other charges.


Police said Friday the 29-year-old man who is accused of shooting a Howard County Police officer on Wednesday attempted to test drive a car and had his license photocopied shortly before the shooting on Route 1 in North Laurel began.

Stephon Prather was charged with 14 counts related to the incident on Friday, including attempted murder.

Police said the incident began when they received a call from an employee at Auto Max in the 9500 block of Washington Blvd. about a suspicious man who wanted to test drive a car. The employee told police he could see the handle of a gun in the man's jacket. The employee requested the man's driver's license and made a photocopy, the license displayed the name Stephon Prather, according to police.

Shortly after, outside the business, an officer arrived and asked Prather to take his hand out of his pocket, but Prather refused, police said. When two additional officers arrived, Prather opened fire on the Route 1 roadway, striking Officer Steven Houk, 30, a two year veteran of the force, according to police.

The officers returned fire and then Prather fled, which led to a 17-hour search before Prather was found walking on Route 1, police reported.

Police announced the charges against Prather after he was released from the hospital Friday. He is being held at the Howard County Detention Center on no bond. 

Prather is charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of second-degree attempted murder, six counts of assault, one count of reckless endangerment and one count of the use of a firearm in a violent crime. His last known address was listed in court records in the 100 block of Circle Drive in Crownsville.

Prather was taken to the hospital to be treated for two gunshot wounds to his leg, according to police. 

Houk remains in the hospital after undergoing surgery Thursday. Police said he is in serious condition, but stable.

Prather previously served time in Maryland after pleading guilty to two counts of assault for shooting at a family, including small children, in June of 2006 in Prince George's County.

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