Man Shoots Himself in Baltimore Courthouse: What We Know

A man is in critical condition after he shot himself with a firearm at a courthouse in Baltimore on Friday.

The Context

A 35-year-old man entered the Eastside District Court at around 8:40 a.m. Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley told reporters at a press conference that "it was clear that he was suffering from a behavioral crisis."

What To Know

Worley said the man was walking back and forth. Sheriff's deputies and bailiffs attempted to interact with him.

Officials did not disclose the victim's identity.

At some point, the man withdrew a firearm and pointed it at his head, Worley said. Deputies and bailiffs unsuccessfully tried to get him to drop the weapon.

"At some point, one of the bailiffs fired a shot. The victim fired a shot, a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head," Worley said.

Police believe the bailiff fired two shots, which struck the victim in the lower extremities, according to Worley.

Worley said the bailiff was a retired Baltimore Police Department officer. The Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 also confirmed on X that one of its retired members was involved in a shooting at the courthouse.

The victim was the only person shot and he was taken to a local hospital.

Worley said the victim did not make it through the courthouse's security system.

"It looks like he went through the second set of double doors," he said.

The courthouse was closed following the incident, according to a statement from State Attorney Ivan J. Bates posted on X.

"Our staff are safe, and the Courthouse is closed for the day. We are currently coordinating with the Baltimore Police Department to gather more details," Bates said.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the shooting was "a tragic situation" and thanked law enforcement for their "quick action."

What People Are Saying

Mayor Scott said at a press conference: "This again shows that behavioral and mental health is a real and deep issue, and we have to continue to do everything we can to deal with it. And this is also another example of how we have to make sure that people who are having these issues don't have that easy access to firearms and weapons."

What Happens Next

Worley said the Maryland Office of the Attorney General will be responding and taking over the investigation, which is still in the preliminary stages.

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