Sources: Evidence Shows Baltimore Detective Sean Suiter Took His Own Life
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- WJZ has learned from sources that the IRB final report concluded that Det. Sean Suiter took his own life last November.
The police department will release the findings of the report later this week.
The IRB concluded its months long investigation last week. Sources tell WJZ that the report will conclude that Suiter turned his service weapon on himself while on duty -- and that his death was not a homicide as originally reported.
It started as a frantic search for a cop killer plus a 9-month long investigation into Suiter's death -- and ended as a closed meeting
Detective Suiter was shot in the head with his own service weapon in November 2017. Police said there was evidence of a "brief but violent" struggle and provided a vague description of a suspect who was never found despite a $215,000 reward.
Police: Baltimore Detective Dead After Being Shot In The Head, Suspect Still At Large
Detective Suiter was on Bennett Place in West Baltimore investigating a triple murder when he ducked into a vacant lot. He made one final, unintelligible radio transmission. At the time of his death, Suiter was separate from his partner who was across the street.
The Board has reviewed surveillance video from the scene that has never been made public. It is unclear if it will be following the release of the findings.
Suiter's family said they do not believe he killed himself. He was found with dirt on his clothing, which is evidence of a struggle.
The IRB has also been in touch with federal prosecutors as part of its investigation.
Suiter was shot the day before he was scheduled to testify in front of a federal grand jury in a police corruption case.
Prosecutors said Suiter was not a target of their investigation, but his testimony was part of the larger ongoing probe into the Gun Trace Task Force.
Detective Suiter previously worked with Sgt. Wayne Jenkins who once headed the GTTF and is now in federal prison.
During federal trials, testimony revealed Suiter and Jenkins were among the undercover officers who chased Umar Burley and Brent Matthews in 2010. Prosecutors said police planted drugs on the men. Suiter unwittingly found the narcotics.
The police department has not yet received the final report.
This story is developing.
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