BALTIMORE — The differing opinions on how Baltimore Police detective Sean Suiter died, has created a divide between many.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison believes Suiter committed suicide, and considers the case closed, while the Medical Examiner, States Attorneys Office, Suiter's wife, and attorney see it differently.
Suiter was shot to death in the 900 block of Bennett Place on November 15, 2017 , by his own service weapon.
On Wednesday, the Maryland State Police concluded that Suiter killed himself, prompting Commissioner Michael Harrison to officially close the case from the police department's standpoint.
RELATED: Maryland State Police investigation concludes BPD detective Sean Suiter died of suicide
The Medical Examiner's Office however, has ruled the case a homicide, while the Baltimore City State's Attorneys Office on Thursday confirmed that the case was an "open and pending matter."
This is my back and forth with @MarilynMosbyEsq about her office’s look into the death of #SeanSuiter. @BaltimoreSAO clearly refers to the investigation as an “open and pending matter.” Not the case with @BaltimorePolice which, yesterday, closed the case saying it was suicide. pic.twitter.com/4OyDlC8Q3Y
— Brian Kuebler (@BrianKuebler_) November 7, 2019
Suiter's widow Nicole, expressed outrage at Harrison's decision.
“He gave that department so many years and for them to try to tarnish his name and his legacy is a big disappointment to us,” said Nicole Suiter. “I just want to know how many times y’all are going to kill my husband.”
It wasn't the first investigation that determined Suiter killed himself. Just last year, an Independent Review Board appointed by then Commissioner Darryl De Sousa concluded the same thing.
READ MORE: Detective Sean Suiter killed himself, IRB panel concludes
The two investigations weren't enough to satisfy Suiter's attorney, Jeremy Eldridge, who called the Maryland State Police investigation a “rubber stamping” of the Independent Review Board's report.
“There were no new witnesses interviewed. There was no testing of any physical evidence. They did not speak with the office of the Chief Medical Examiner. They did not converse with the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City whose been handling the investigation. They did not speak with me, his attorney,” said Eldridge.
On Thursday the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told WMAR-2 News Investigative Reporter Brian Kuebler that they will not comment while the Baltimore States Attorneys Office continues their investigation, but reiterated that the case is being considered a homicide.
