Maryland officials ID man fatally shot by police

MOUNT AIRY, Md. – Authorities in Maryland are identifying a man they say was fatally shot by police after a van rammed a police vehicle and headed toward officers.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that the man killed Monday was Cody Mitchell, a 26-year-old white man from Damascus.

The sheriff’s statement says officers from neighbouring Howard County spotted a burglary in progress and were told to stop the suspect van. But when the van rammed a police vehicle and headed for them, two officers fatally shot Mitchell. A white woman in the van, 28-year-old Shyann Outen of Woodbine, was unharmed and is charged with burglary and theft.

The sheriff’s office identified the officers as Cpl. Thomas Townsend, a 16-year police department veteran, and Police Officer First Class Darshan Luckey, a 10-year veteran. Both are on administrative leave.