SMITHSBURG, Md. — A several day manhunt for a fired Baltimore County Police officer wanted in multiple kidnappings across two states ended Thursday with four fatalities.
Police say Robert Vicosa died following a police pursuit that started near Waynesboro, Pennsylvania and tragically ended in a crash just beyond the Maryland line in Washington County.
Officers discovered Vicosa and his two young daughters, who he'd reportedly kidnapped, shot in the back seat of a stolen Ford Edge. Vicosa and one daughter died on scene, while the other passed away at a local hospital.
Behind the wheel was 35-year-old Tia Bynum, a suspended Baltimore County Police sergeant who allegedly aided Vicosa throughout his rampage. She too appeared to have been shot and died on scene.
Maryland State Police believe Vicosa shot Bynum then himself within 30 seconds of when police tried pulling them over, which may be the reason why the car crashed.
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It's still unclear if Vicosa shot his daughters at the same time or at a different point in the day.
“The tragedy that occurred [Thursday] was beyond horrific. This was a selfish and senseless act of violence that has shaken us to our very core," said Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt. "While residents in Maryland and Pennsylvania, including our very own law enforcement community, struggle to understand why, we offer our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and coworkers of those directly affected by this atrocity.”
Police in York, Pennsylvania began the search for Vicosa on Tuesday after he allegedly broke into a home, held his ex-wife captive and sexually assaulted her, before fleeing in her car with their six and seven-year-old daughters, Aaminah and Giana, against a court order.
Not long after the initial incident, Vicosa ran the stolen car into a creek in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, at which point he carjacked another woman.
Then on Wednesday Vicosa accompanied by Bynum struck again, this time in Cockeysville, holding a man at gunpoint and forcing him to drive various places around the area, before letting him go unharmed.
MORE: Fired Baltimore County officer wanted in PA accused of another kidnapping
At the time of their death, police say Vicosa and Bynum had an assault rifle and two 9mm handguns with them in the vehicle.
A motive has not yet been determined.
