No Charges: Maryland State Trooper Fatally Shoots Teen Armed With Airsoft Gun, Knife

[Sugar Cookie]

A Maryland state trooper on Tuesday fatally shot a 16-year-old boy who authorities say was armed with an airsoft gun and a knife, a new report said.

Peyton Ham was allegedly pointing the replica gun at the responding trooper, who believed it to be a real firearm during the 1:30 p.m. encounter in Leonardtown, a witness told police, according to Fox 5 DC.

The unidentified male trooper shot Ham once before the teen stood back up wielding a knife, another witness told police.

The trooper ordered Ham to drop the knife, but the teen refused. The trooper then fired another shot.

The teen died at a nearby hospital.

An airsoft gun and knife were recovered at the scene, the report said.

Maryland state trooper fatally shoots teen armed with airsoft gun, knife

A Maryland state trooper on Tuesday fatally shot a 16-year-old boy who authorities say was armed with an airsoft gun and a knife, a new report said. Peyton Ham was allegedly pointing the replica gu…

nypost.com

 

[Satanica]

The article doesn't mention what precipitated the police visit, but, obviously, the kid should've complied. Parents really must take responsibility for educating their children about encounters with police. All children of any race.

Something was going on with that kid. Most of us wouldn't decide to get up with a knife after being shot by an officer. That is quite counter intuitive.
[automerge]1618405229[/automerge]

[....]
Just before 1:30 p.m. local time Tuesday, police received two separate 911 calls about a man acting suspicious while holding what looked like a gun, police said in a statement Tuesday night.

According to the police statement, a witness told investigators they saw Ham take a shooting stance and point his gun at the trooper, at which point, the trooper fired at Ham, wounding him.

A second witness allegedly told investigators that after the trooper fired the first time, they saw Ham pull out a knife and try to get up. The trooper then ordered Ham to drop the knife, before he fired again, the statement reads.
[....]
The trooper -- who was assigned to the Leonardtown Barrack and has been a Maryland state trooper for nearly three years -- reported the shooting and called for EMS, police said.

Ham was transported to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the statement reads. An autopsy will be conducted soon.
[....]

Maryland state trooper fatally shoots 16-year-old after responding to reports of an armed man

Maryland State Police are investigating a trooper-involved fatal shooting in Leonardtown that ended in the death of a 16-year-old.

abcnews.go.com

 

[Craygor]

This happen really close to my work. I'm on a week break right now, but when I return to work Friday night I will definitely hear about it. Many of my coworkers live in Leonardtown and nearby Hollywood, Md. What gets me is where this dumbass got himself shot. He was killed at 23000 Hollywood Road, but most people don't call it that, but use its route number, 245. There is a lot of new construction in the area, but its still relatively rural. The location of the shooting is directly across the street from the MedStar St. Mary's Hospital (which didn't help his ass much) and less than half a mile from the State Police Barracks and County Sheriff's Office. He was also near sandwiched inbetween the District courthouse for the county and a campus of the College of Southern Maryland. I don't know what this twat was thinking fucking around with a replica gun and pulling a knife in this area.

 

[Satanica]

Yeah, I doubt thinking had much to do with his decisions. Can't blame LE for this one either.

 

[Sejanus]

Kid brought it on himself.
So yeah...VICTIM BLAMING!

Sucks the cop carries this moment forever now.
Not at fault.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

From May 24, 2022

One year after a Maryland State Trooper shot and killed the 16-year-old Peyton Ham, his mother has filed a civil complaint in federal court against Joseph Charles Azzari seeking over $10 million for the wrongful killing of her son.

On April 13, 2021, Azzari was on duty when he received a county-wide dispatch reporting a suspicious man with a gun in a neighborhood near the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barracks.

Azzari immediately responded to the dispatched location and did not activate his lights or sirens.

When Azzari arrived on the scene, he proceeded to approach the wrong property which was next door to the correct address. His lights and sirens remained off as he pulled into the driveway. Azzari also did not activate the in-car camera equipped in his vehicle, despite the nature of the incident.

Upon exiting the vehicle, Azzari spotted Peyton who was walking on the neighboring property. Azzari believed that Peyton was holding a handgun in his right hand, as he reportedly proceeded to point it towards him.

It was later determined that Peyton was not holding an actual handgun, but rather holding a toy gun.

Azzari then opened fire in the direction of Peyton. The complaint alleges that approximately 11 rounds were discharged, with one or more striking Ham in the right arm. Peyton was injured yet still alive and conscious.

Azzari reportedly later acknowledged that after the first couple of rounds fired, Peyton was no longer a threat. Ham was on his knees when Azzari reportedly fired approximately four more rounds into Ham, causing him to collapse onto the ground. Peyton eventually succumbed to his injuries.

The plaintiff, Kristee Boyle, the mother of Peyton, claims that Azzari recklessly opened fire in a neighborhood with disregard for the safety of others around him. One of the shots reportedly broke a window and entered the living area of a nearby home. Peyton’s step-grandmother and step-aunt were also reportedly within feet of the incident and were yelling at Azzari to stop.

The plaintiff filed a civil lawsuit against Azzari with a total of five charges: excessive force, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, survival action, and damages.

Boyle is suing for $5 million in punitive damages and an additional $5 million for the death of her son.

After the investigation by St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Richard Fritz and the Maryland State Police, Azzari was found to have done nothing wrong.

Azzari reportedly saw Ham with a knife in his back pocket, saying he refused to drop it. After the first rounds were fired, Ham reportedly stood back up with the knife in hand, which caused Azzari to fire a second round. Azzari reportedly stated in a later report that he wasn’t equipped with any non-lethal options.

Family Of Peyton Ham Suing State Trooper For $10 Million - The BayNet

LEONARDTOWN, Md. – One year after a Maryland State Trooper shot and killed the 16-year-old Peyton Ham, his mother has filed a civil complaint in federal court against Joseph Charles Azzari seeking over $10 million for the wrongful killing of her son. On April 13, 2021, Azzari was on duty when he...

thebaynet.com

Now, after nearly two years since the tragic incident, the lawsuit against Azzari has been dismissed. The investigation, which was conducted by then State’s Attorney Richard Fritz, determined Azzari was not at fault.

U.S. District Court Judge George J. Hazel officially dismissed the case on January 10, 2023.

Boyle claimed that Ham’s civil rights were violated, citing the fourth and 14th amendments of the Constitution.

Hazel stated that a dispute about whether Ham made it to his feet or remained on his knees following the initial round of 11 shots, was not material. Chris Longmore, Boyle’s attorney, argued back, stating Ham did not make it back to his feet while holding a knife 15 to 25 feet from Azzari after he was initially shot.

Hazel then wrote that it was reasonable to conclude that Ham posed an imminent threat to Azzari because he was wielding a knife.

Lawsuit Against State Trooper Involved In Peyton Ham’s Death Dismissed - The BayNet

LEONARDTOWN, Md. – On April 13, 2021, Maryland State Trooper, Joseph Charles Azzari Jr., shot and killed Peyton Alexander Ham during an altercation with the 16-year-old, after Ham called 911 to report a suspicious man with a gun. On April 12, 2022, Kristee Ann Boyle filed a lawsuit against...

thebaynet.com