FOREST HILL, Md. — Charges will not be filed against two deputies who shot and killed a man in Harford County in April, the Harford County State's Attorney announced.
Officers responded around 2:45 p.m. at a shopping center in Forest Hill.
RELATED: Lawsuit accuses Harford County Sheriff of interfering with deputy involved shooting investigation
After an hours-long search, and speaking with the man over the phone, police found him armed with a long gun behind the CVS off Rock Spring Road.
At some point during the interaction, Sergeant Bradford Sives and Corporal Christopher Maddox shot and killed 53-year-old John Raymond Fauver, of Whiteford.
Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said State's Attorney for Harford County Albert Peisinger told him that their investigation had been completed.
The conclusion was that the actions by the Harford County deputies were "necessary and proportional and not unreasonable under the circumstances." The actions were considered to be lawful.
"I categorize this unfortunate incident as suicide by law enforcement," Peisinger said.
The Harford County State's Attorney Office reviewed body-worn camera footage, audio and video dash camera recordings, witness interviews, photographs and other relevant information.
"The Harford County Sheriff’s Office will now begin an administrative investigation into the actions of deputies to ensure compliance with policy and training," Sheriff Gahler said. "I want to thank Mr. Peisinger and his staff for conducting a thorough, independent and timely review of the facts related to this incident, and for putting the welfare of our County, our deputies, and the family of Mr. Fauver first."
However, the Independent Investigations Division at the Attorney General's Office said it is still investigating.
The department said it is preparing to bring out more information, and it will be released to the public.
"The IID will continue to complete a thorough, independent investigation, as the Maryland legislature has charged us to do," the IID said in a statement. "The investigation includes information that has not yet been requested or reviewed by the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. When our investigation is complete, we will present it to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office and, when appropriate, release it to the public."
Attorney General Brian Frosh sues Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler for “interfering” with the state’s investigation which is now required by state law.
In a complaint filed in Harford County Circuit Court, Frosh alleged that Gahler is refused to provide his office with copies of body-worn and dash-board camera footage of the incident.
Frosh claimed Gahler also prevented the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Unit from collecting evidence from the scene. He asked for a judge to issue a restraining order, forcing Gahler to hand over all the evidence.
A judge ordered the county sheriff to turn over all evidence from the shooting to the Attorney General's Office.
