Det. Suiter's partner's name has yet to be released to the public. Obviously the Baltimore PD know who he is, but why are they protecting his identity? Do they fear he may be blamed for not doing enough to intervene and save his partner? It may well be, and he may have done everything by the book. But nobody wants their partner being killed while they are supposed to "have their back".
According to the Baltimore Sun's Contact Reporter Justin Fenton, Det. Suiter and his partner were visiting the scene of a triple homicide that occurred in the block last December. That's right, last December. Why were they there on that particular day? One of my prior questions was answered why they weren't wearing body cameras - they are detectives and detectives don't wear uniforms. They were reportedly in the area "canvassing" and had no real plans to meet any informant or person when they came upon Mr. Suspicious in the vacant lot.
Although the police reports Det. Suiter and mystery partner reportedly saw two activities that brought their attention to Mr. Suspicious/unsub - no action was taken. They briefly left the area and when they returned is when the struggle ensued and Det. Suiter was shot. Police are referring to a "violent struggle" between Suiter and unsub. Why didn't mystery partner step in and pull out his police issued revolver? He had to have one. It seems so unlikely that two armed seasoned officers could be disarmed and shot by one "suspicious" man.
The police has confirmed Suiter was indeed shot with his own service revolver in the head at close range. That doesn't sound like the kind of shot where the perpetrator is just trying to evade arrest due to some outstanding warrants. That sounds more like a paid hit or execution. Why was Suiter targeted and not mystery partner? 3 shots were fired from Suiter's weapon which was recovered at the scene. Why didn't the partner fire his weapon?
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| Police Commissioner Davis - Baltimore Sun |
Although the detectives weren't wearing body cameras, the officers responding to the shooting were and they observed that Suiter still had his police radio in his hand - he must have been calling for backup or trying to call. It sounds like Police Commissioner Davis is trying to protect Suiter's partners actions or inaction by now claiming the partner "sought cover" across the street when the gunshots rang out. What was he doing away from his partner if this vacant lot guy was so suspicious that they came back around a second tie to see what he was up to? You would think they would've been right there with him, not across the street.
When Suiter's partner called in the shooting he initially gave no description of the shooter, then later gave a generic description of a black male with a black jacket and white stripes (Adidas?). Police have also indicated the unsub may have been wounded during the struggle/shooting and area hospitals have been informed to be on the lookout.
Detective Suiter was scheduled to appear before a federal grand jury and testify about potential racketeering charges against 8 of his fellow officers. Reportedly 4 have already plead guilty to the charges. I may be wrong, but none of this sounds like the coincidence the Baltimore Police Department officials want us to believe it is. How likely was he to be shot and killed while canvassing a neighborhood in connection with a triple homicide that happened nearly a year ago? Even thugs hesitate to kill members of law enforcement due to the death penalty enhancement. What could have been so serious about this encounter where this brief yet violent struggle ends with a dead detective?
According to the Baltimore Sun, Suiter was not part of the indictment - however he worked with 3 of the indicted officers during his 18 year career. He was purely a witness giving testimony. Now he has 5 children who lost their father forever. We need answers. If this was a random freak shooting then so be it. But it doesn't really pass the smell test with me. What do you think? The Daily Beast is calling the Federal Grand Jury Indictment "a high profile racketeering case". The 8 indicted officers are accused of "shaking down city residents and conspiring with drug dealers". Yet Commissioner Davis doesn't believe the shooting was at all related to the testimony. He chooses to believe the "suspicious person" who the unnamed partner couldn't provide a description of theory.
Another detail I didn't know when I wrote the first post - Detective Suiter also left behind a wife. A wife and FIVE children who are fatherless. The federal indictment must be a huge embarrassment to the Baltimore PD due to the supposed "Elite" status of the very group who now stands accused of being on the take. Recent reports indicated there were 8 indicted officers, but when I look online for their names prior reports point to 7 officers. The earlier articles paint an even more negative picture of this elite team of crooks...I mean officers.
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| Indicted Officers (CNN) |
In addition to the shaking down of citizens and conspiring with drug dealers, they also allegedly filed false court documentation and made fraudulent overtime claims. Talk about getting caught with your mitts in the cookie jar! One of the indicted officers is separately charged with participating in an illegal drug operation and tipping off the organization to police activities. The picture is becoming clearer and clearer to me. If this murder goes unsolved, it will take a lot to convince me it was a random act of violence on a random detective.
The officers involved and indicted are: 36 year old Sgt. Wayne Jenkins, 34 year old detective Momodu Gondo, 32 year old Evodio Hendrix, 37 year old Daniel Herzl, 36 year old Jemell Rayam, 30 year old Marcus Taylor and 36 year old Maurice Ward. This whole story stinks, I'm telling you.
