Police-Involved Shooting Under Investigation In West Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A police-involved shooting in west Baltimore ended with a suspect killed after investigators say the man tried robbing an off-duty officer.

Rick Ritter has more on the tense moments that led up to the shooting.

Police say the suspect walked into a liquor store with a gun and announced an armed robbery. Little did he know the man he was trying to rob was an off-duty officer.

Sky Eye Chopper 13 hovered over the scene minutes after an attempted armed robbery ended with shots fired.

The call came in just before 6 in west Baltimore as an older man walked into Green Tree Liquors.

"An adult male entered the store, announced a robbery. The suspect had a gun," said TJ Smith.

Inside, police say he turned his attention to an off-duty officer.

"We believe he was actually robbing the officer, as opposed to the business, at the time this occurred," Smith said.

That's when the officer pulled out his gun and fired several shots at the suspect, who was then rushed to Shock Trauma and was later pronounced dead.

"The person he attempted to rob today was an armed police officer and the officer defended himself," Smith said.

Tense moments for Kelly Adams' driver's ed class and young students just across the street.

"It's worrisome as far as the safety, especially with trying to hold a class," she said.

It was a wild scene police feel could have been even worse.

The suspect has been identified as Robert Howard.

The officer was not injured and has not yet been identified.

Police say there's no indication the suspect knew it was an officer he was trying to rob. Officials add that it's not unusual for officers to live in the city and they're required to carry weapons when off-duty.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on routine administrative leave.