BALTIMORE — Maryland State Police have determined the death of Baltimore City Police detective Sean Suiter was a suicide.
On Wednesday, his family expressed their disappointment.
Suiter was shot to death in the 900 block of Bennett Place on November 15, 2017 , by his own service weapon.
Baltimore Police sources close to the investigation at the time confirmed that the final and fatal shot was to the back of the head near Suiter's right ear, and exited through his left forehead.
That slug was recovered by police, buried in the dirt which led detectives originally to conclude Suiter was in a struggle and forced to the ground.
Dirt marks found on Suiter’s pants and an unintelligible radio transmission were seen as other signs of that Suiter was in a struggle and overpowered by a suspect.
Now with the release of the Maryland State Police investigation, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison says the investigation into how Suiter died, is officially closed based off not only this report, but also last years Independent Review Board findings.
RELATED: Detective Sean Suiter killed himself, IRB panel concludes
"Regardless of the circumstances, Det. Suiter’s death was a tragedy and we will continue to keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers," said Harrison.
Speculation about Suiter's death grew when his name became tied to the Gun Trace Task Force investigation and eventual prosecutions of the past two years. He was scheduled to testify the day after he was shot.
Suiter was involved in a 2010 incident, in which he and two detectives from the now disgraced unit chased and stopped a car illegally that resulted in the death of an 86-year-old man.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner officially ruled Suiter's death a homicide, a decision that currently stands.
Commissioner Harrison's full statement can be read below:
I have received the Maryland State Police report regarding their review of the investigation into Det. Sean Suiter’s death. There is nothing in the report to suggest that Det. Suiter’s death was anything other than a suicide, nor was there any suggestion that the case should be re-investigated or continued. Given that, and given similar findings by last year’s independent review board, BPD’s investigation into Det. Suiter’s death is now closed. Regardless of the circumstances, Det. Suiter’s death was a tragedy and we will continue to keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers. Finally, I want to thank Superintendent William Pallozzi and every member of the State Police who worked on the report for their commitment to bringing closure in this case.
