Man Charged With 25-Counts In Ambush That Killed Maryland Officer

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WJZ)—An ambush at a police station in Prince George's County claims the life of one officer on Sunday night.

Now, three brothers are now facing a slew of charges in connection to the death of Officer Jacai Colson.

WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren has more.

Chilling pictures show an armed Michael Ford out front of the Prince George's County police station at the start of his rampage.

Police say Ford, who had a documented history of mental illness, planned the attack and then enlisted his brothers, Elijah and Malik Ford to record the shooting. Michael Ford expected to die in the shootout.

Instead, undercover Officer Jacai Colson was killed in the wild gun battle. Authorities say during the ambush one of Colson's fellow officers fired the bullet that killed him.

"This is a complicated case, we recognize that" said Prince George's State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.

The county's top prosecutor now has to decide what charges to press for after a court commissioner threw out second degree murder and gun counts against Malik and Elijah Ford since they were not armed.

"Murder—and everyone in this community agrees—is the highest act against this community," said Alsobrooks. "We will act accordingly. We will not doing with retribution and revenge in our hearts, we don't have top because we have the law."

Michael ford remains in the hospital.

Alsobrooks says it was troubling how he was able to obtain a handgun with his background.

"We don't known yet where he got the gun, how he got the gun," she said. "What we know is mental illness and guns don't go together."

On Tuesday night, the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office announced charges of second-degree murder against Michael Ford. They say he's facing a total of 25-counts in relation to the entire incident.

"Having someone intentionally kill a person who's designated by this community as a defender is something we take very seriously," said Alsobrooks.