RAW: Baltimore officer was father of 5
BALTIMORE (RNN/WJZ/CNN) – Police in Baltimore have a massive ground and air search ongoing for a suspect they say shot a homicide detective who died from his injuries Thursday.
Det. Sean Suiter was an 18-year veteran with the department and a husband and father of two, The Baltimore Sun reported.
“His tragic death will forever impact the BPD,” wrote Police Commissioner Kevin Davis in an email obtained by The Sun. “Each of you go out there and put your lives on the line every single day. The importance of your sacrifice, and Sean’s, can’t be overstated.”
Suiter was out with his partner Wednesday afternoon when he was shot. The man’s partner called in the incident.
The FBI, ATF, and local Crime Stoppers are offering a $69,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the shooter.
Rick Johnson says he was nearby when the gunfire erupted.
“Clack, clack, clack, clack – next thing you know every police officer in the West District showed up,” Johnson said.
Police say an officer loaded the detective into a cruiser and started driving him to the hospital, but an ambulance met them in between and transferred the victim to the ER.
Dr. Thomas Scalea, the chief of surgery at the hospital, said the detective came in the hospital in critical condition and was placed on full life support.
We need your tips. Reward now up to $69K. Call any of the tiplines or 1-800-CALL-FBI. Please share. @BaltimorePolice @ATFHQ @MCSMaryland pic.twitter.com/ldhIKRbwiY
— FBI Baltimore (@FBIBaltimore) November 16, 2017
Members of the community are expressing anger that someone could carry out an act of violence so heinous.
“They’re human beings, just like we are, and they got a dangerous job every day to protect lives and save lives,” one resident said. “When they start shooting police officers, they have no human regard for life.”
Others, including Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, are sending their thoughts and prayers to the detective and his fellow officers after a request from the Baltimore Police Department.
“My heart and my prayers go out to this detective’s family. He deserved to come home tonight, and because of the act of cowardice, he’s not,” state attorney Marilyn Mosby said.
Copyright 2017 Raycom News Network. WJZ via CNN contributed to the report. All rights reserved.