Gaithersburg Police and the Montgomery County Department of Police have released new details about the fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday evening in Gaithersburg.
Gaithersburg Police and the Montgomery County Department of Police have released additional details about the fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday evening in Gaithersburg, as the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division continues its investigation.
According to police, officers from both agencies responded at approximately 6:45 p.m. on July 12 to a bus stop in the 9600 block of Lost Knife Road after receiving a report of an armed man. Officers encountered 46-year-old Elliott Powers of Rockville, who was holding what appeared to be a handgun. Police said officers spoke with Powers for several minutes and attempted to de-escalate the situation. According to the update, Powers racked the slide on the handgun and later raised it in the direction of an officer. Officers from both agencies then fired their service weapons, striking Powers.
Officers immediately rendered medical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, but Powers was pronounced dead at the scene. A handgun was recovered nearby. No officers or bystanders were injured during the incident.
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division identified the involved Montgomery County police officers as Officer Michael Wengloski, a 12.5-year veteran assigned to the Special Operations Bureau; Officer Andrew Hanko, an eight-year veteran assigned to the Patrol Division; and Officer Robert Bullock, a seven-year veteran assigned to the Patrol Division.
The involved Gaithersburg Police officers were identified as Officer Noah Whelan, a five-year veteran; Officer Carissa Fortin, an 8.5-year veteran; and Sgt. Christopher Leach, a 14-year veteran. All three are assigned to the Patrol Division.
The Independent Investigations Division said all involved officers were equipped with body-worn cameras. Under Maryland law, the agency generally releases body-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident, although that timeline may be extended if additional witness interviews are needed, technical redactions are required, or family members are given an opportunity to view the footage before its public release.
Anyone with information about the incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the Independent Investigations Division at (410) 576-7070 or by email at [email protected].
