Many Baltimoreans Not Sure What To Believe In Det. Sean Suiter's Death
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- There are more questions than answers after a review board decided that Baltimore PD Detective Sean Suiter killed himself while on duty.
It's stirring up more controversy in the high-interest case. A Baltimore PD press conference held Wednesday morning left a lot of unanswered questions.
Some people tell WJZ they weren't surprised by the board's findings, while others say they just don't believe Suiter committed suicide.
Up until this point, Suiter's widow has not commented much publicly but on the heels of the report finding his death a suicide, she said she will not allow the city to shame her husband's name.
In an interview with our media partners The Baltimore Sun, Nicole Suiter discredited a new report that said her husband killed himself, calling it a "cover-up".
Suiter said she does not believe her husband committed suicide last November while on duty. She calls it a coverup. She said she called him on the phone an hour before his death and said he seemed to be in a great mood.
Baltimore Police Detective's Widow Denies Suicide Allegations, Says He Was Murdered
"I will not go on allowing anyone to shame my husband's name and ruin his legacy," Suiter said.
"I spoke with my husband less than one hour prior to his murder," Suiter said. "Sean was in a great mood, happy spirit when we briefly joked about a video of him dancing that I captured,"
Detective Sean Suiter was shot last November, a day before he was set to testify in a federal corruption case that involved fellow officers. The Baltimore Police Department authorized an independent review board to investigate.
"We were given the task and the task was to go where the evidence leads to follow the facts," said James Stewart, IRB Chair with CNA, a non-profit analysis and supervision firm.
The board said the facts included evidence like a grainy video released, where Det. Suiter is seen pacing on Bennett Place, then disappearing out of the camera's view. They believe he then shot himself.
Seconds later, his partner is seen running. the board said he thought a suspect was on the loose.
According to the board, other evidence included blood spatter on Suiter's shirt cuff and his DNA inside the barrel of the gun.
They also said there were mistakes during the initial investigation.
"When people are emotionally involved in an issue, whether they are community members, or police officers or police leaders, it's very difficult to look at facts and accept that," said Chip Coldren, IRB co-chair.
Det. Sean Suiter's Case Remains Open, Despite IRB's 'Unanimous' Finding On His Suicide
Mayor Catherine Pugh said she read the report, but wants to hear more from the board members.
"My condolences are still with the family. A father was lost, a husband was lost." Pugh said.
The medical examiner ruled Suiter's death a homicide, but the office is reviewing the report at this time.
"Obviously the police department is not going to determine the manner, that's going to be left to the medical examiner's office," said Gary Tuggle, interim Baltimore police commissioner.
On both sides, people have a lot of questions and they're looking to police for answers.
With a 207 page final report finally made public, an independent review board's investigation into the death of Sean Suiter closed.
But, it's opened a new conversation on the controversial case.
"Like many people, it just brings up a lot of questions, and hopefully we can get to the bottom of that by reading the report, analyzing it and figuring out how to move forward," said Baltimore Councilman Brandon Scott.
Scott says he is in the process of combing through the evidence listed in the IRB report that led to the unanimous finding that Suiter committed suicide while on duty last November.
Neighbors who watched their block be put on lockdown after it became a crime scene as police frantically searched for a suspect say they don't need to see the written report.
"No, that couldn't have happened, especially if the officer gun was used, but yet, no one was around him when the gun was fired but himself," said Baltimore resident Craig Hall.
Hall questioned the search for a suspect since it began. He says he suspected suicide as the yellow crime scene tape went up.
Neighbor Andrew Gordon disagrees.
"If it was a suicide, then why did they give us the entire story of somebody shot the dude and they're searching for the dude around here?" Gordon asked.
More questions than answers as leaders across the city promise to dig into the review board's ruling.
"There's no one alive who can convince me that the theory that this panel formulated is the correct answer," Suiter told the Baltimore Sun.
The final report is far from the final word on a case that rocked the city. A case that has now turned into a murder mystery. Now, many suspect this discussion will not end at the IRB's conclusion of suicide.
This does not close the Baltimore Police Department's investigation into the case.
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