TOWSON, Md. — On Friday, just a day shy of a year after being shot in the line of duty, a Baltimore County Police officer will make her return to work.
Officer T. Hays was wounded by other officers in a friendly cross-fire incident while dealing with an armed man inside a Parkville home.
Robert Uhl Johnson, 76, had called police reporting someone was waiving a gun inside his home in the 3000 block of Linwood Avenue.
When officers arrived, they saw Johnson sitting inside on a chair facing the front door. He allegedly refused to get up and come out, but told police no one else was inside the home.
After entering the house Johnson was ordered to keep his hands up. Police say he instead picked up a handgun, pointed it at the officers and said, "I'm sorry I have to do this."
Four officers including Hays then fired, killing Johnson. The incident was the second departmental shooting Hays has been involved in throughout her career.
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Initially police said Johnson fired and shot Hays, but body worn camera footage and other evidence revealed that his gun wasn't loaded. Hays was hospitalized for about a week and a half following the incident.
Investigators later found that Johnson had left his will and last requests for burial for them to find.
READ MORE: Mother of officer shot in Parkville thanks the community for their support
Hays has been a member of the police department for over 14-years, and is the daughter of former Ocean City, Maryland and current Sarasota, Florida Police Chief Bernadette DiPino.
