1 Dead In Officer-Involved Shooting In Mount Airy

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in the area of Penn Shop Road and Route 27 in Mount Airy.

The shooting involved two Howard County Police Department officers. No officers were injured, however.

Howard County police officers were in the area as part of an ongoing burglary investigation across county lines, and authorities say the two officers fired on the suspects after they began driving towards them.

Police say the suspects also rammed into the police cruiser.

Chaos erupted mid-afternoon Monday in Frederick County.

Authorities from both Frederick and Howard County on the scene at Penn Shop Rd. near Route 27.

The investigation centered on a police-involved shooting that turned fatal.

Yessica Garcia-Benetiz, whose family lives across the street from the scene, says it was a definite cause for concern.

"I didn't come out and see anything because I thought I could have been shot and get hurt," she said.

According to investigators, the shooting was done by two Howard County police officers, members of a special repeat offenders unit.

They were across county lines as part of a "multi-jurisdictional burglary investigation"

Authorities say this all unfolded after police responded to a burglary in progress off Manor Drive. Neighbors say they were alarmed by the incident.

"It's kind of scary to everybody," one person said.

Frederick County Sheriff's Office officials, the agency handling the investigation, say the officers were told to conduct a traffic stop.

Investigators say that's when the two robbery suspects not only used their van to ram the police cruiser, but also began accelerating towards a trio of officers.

"Two of the officers fired, striking one of the suspects killing them. The other individual in the van was unharmed was a white female, she was taken into custody," said Major Tim Clarke, with the FCSO.

The suspect killed has been identified as 26-year-old Cody Mitchell from Damascus. The unharmed suspect was identified as 28-year-old Shyann Outen from Woodbine.

Amazingly, no officers were hurt.

The investigation is still in its early stages and ongoing.

"They have to do all the background work first before they can let out the true story," one nearby resident said.

WJZ has learned there is no bodycam or police dashcam video of the shooting. The officers have been placed on routine administrative leave.

The Howard County Chief of Police issued the following statement:

"Earlier today, two Howard County police officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Mt. Airy, on the Frederick side of the county line. The Howard County officers were in Frederick County as part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation into a series of ongoing burglaries.

"Because the incident occurred in Frederick County, it is being investigated by the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. I have been in touch with Sheriff Jenkins and assured him that Howard County Police will cooperate fully in their investigation and provide them with any information or assistance they need. I am confident Frederick County will conduct a thorough and detailed investigation.

"In addition, the Howard County Police Department will initiate its own internal investigation, which is standard in all police-involved shootings. The two officers, who are members of a specialized unit focused on repeat offenders, have been placed on standard administrative leave. Neither was injured in the incident.

"It is a difficult day when there is an incident that results in the loss of life. We will continue to work with the Frederick County Sheriff's Office to ensure investigators have access to all the information and assistance they need."

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