Baltimore County Police officers executing a warrant in Randallstown, Maryland yesterday found themselves in a stand off with a 23-year old black woman, Korryn Gaines, who was inside the apartment holding a shotgun in one hand and her 5-year old son in the other.
A police spokesperson said three officers had gone to the apartment to serve an arrest warrant on Gaines, who had failed to appear in court over several traffic charges, and another man, wanted for assault, at the same address.
According to reports, after hearing the two talking inside the apartment, officers obtained a key from the landlord but when they opened the door they found themselves in a stand-off with Gaines.
“The officers retreated to the hallway outside the apartment and called for additional support,” the spokesperson said.
“The male suspect ran from the apartment with a one-year-old boy - one of two children in in the apartment with the couple - and was apprehended by police.
“The armed woman remained inside with the five-year-old boy, and a barricade situation began at about 9.40am and continued throughout the afternoon.”
The standoff continued for hours, the entire building was evacuated, but Gaines refused to surrender and officers ultimately opened fire when she declared, "If you don't leave, I'm going to kill you."
Gaines returned fire on the officers but was reportedly struck multiple times and died at the scene. Her 5-year old son was also shot in a limb during the mayhem but was treated at a nearby hospital for non life-threatening injuries.
Some Facebook videos posted by Gaines during the stand-off and other social media posts were reportedly deleted, although one such video from an earlier encounter with police can be found below.
Despite all of this information and details about the danger she put her son in, the death of Korryn Gaines is being condemned by the Black Lives Matter movement. A vigil is planned for Friday night at Baltimore City College.
[Via]
