Nov. 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 11

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY SILVER SPRING, MD. MD Police Release Video of Fatal Shooting of Man Armed with Grill Fork. SILVER SPRING, MD. – The Montgomery County Department of Police released a critical incident video detailing a Sept. 21 call in Silver Spring, Maryland, in which an officer shot a man armed with a grill fork who refused to drop the weapon. The man died from his injuries. That night officers responded to a call reporting an assault in process. The caller advised an intoxicated male was trying to fight people, said Carlos Cortes- Vasquez, of the department’s public information office. The video explains that as multiple units responded to the call, Montgomery County Cpl. Cody Hobbs was the first to arrive. His body-worn camera video shows the encounter with the man, who appeared to be holding a large knife. Later, police recovered a large grilling fork from the scene. CLICK TO WATCH Hobbs is heard repeatedly telling the man to “drop the knife.” But the video shows the man approaching Hobbs with the weapon in hand and then walking past, heading toward a group of people. At that point, Hobbs fired multiple rounds, and the man fell to the ground. Officers provided first aid and requested fire rescue assistance, Cortes-Vasquez said. However, the man, identified as Melvin Chavez, died. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Independent Investigations Division, with the assistance of Maryland State Police, is leading this investigation. Additionally, the Montgomery County Department of Police’s Office of Internal Affairs will conduct an administrative investigation. Be sure and check out our new BUYERS GUIDE on Page140 54 The Blues - November ‘24

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