Death by Cop 2026
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Alex Charles
Age : 30
Gender : Male
Race : Black
Date : 07/31/2026
Location : Fort Washington Park, 13551 Fort Washington Road
City : Fort Washington
County : Prince George
State : Maryland
Agency : Maryland-National Capital Park Police
Officer(s) :Corporal Anthony Delozier
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during armed disturbance call
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 07/31/2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Maryland-National Capital Park Police officers responded to Fort Washington Park after receiving reports of gunfire and a man walking near the Potomac River while armed with a handgun. Corporal Anthony Delozier encountered 30-year-old Alex Charles near the shoreline. During the encounter, Delozier fired his service weapon, striking Charles. Charles was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators reported that a handgun was recovered near his body. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division is leading the investigation into the fatal shooting.
The Attorney General's Office identified the involved officer as Corporal Anthony Delozier, a 15-year veteran of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police who previously served approximately 24 years with the Prince George's County Police Department. As required by agency policy, Delozier was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Court records show that while serving with the Prince George's County Police Department, Delozier was indicted in 2000 on charges including unreasonable force and conspiracy arising from the police canine attack on two homeless men who prosecutors alleged had already surrendered. According to prosecutors, Delozier asked a supervising sergeant whether the dog could "get a bite" before another officer released the canine. One man suffered serious bite injuries. Delozier was ultimately acquitted of the charges. Those prior allegations have received renewed attention following the fatal shooting of Alex Charles.
The Independent Investigations Division has not yet released body-camera footage or additional details describing the events immediately preceding the shooting. The investigation remains active.
Corporal Delozier has a history of prior police brutality incidents including:
- 1995 K-9 attack on two homeless men. Prosecutors alleged the men had already surrendered when Delozier asked a supervising officer whether the police dog could "take a bite." Another officer then released the dog, seriously injuring one of the men. Federal prosecutors alleged Delozier participated in a civil-rights violation and conspiracy.
- 2000 federal indictment. Delozier was indicted on federal civil-rights and conspiracy charges arising from that incident.
- 2001 trial outcome. He was acquitted on one charge at the first trial, the jury deadlocked on another, and after a retrial he was acquitted of the remaining conspiracy charge. He was never convicted.
- Despite the acquittal, the case became one of the better-known excessive-force controversies involving the Prince George's County Police Department's K-9 unit during a period when the department faced extensive federal scrutiny over police dog attacks.
Public statement by a family member:
Alex served in the Navy, graduated college from Virginia State University, and was a Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity member. He was gainfully employed and excited about the work he was doing in IT with government agencies.
Alex had just bought a home and was working to get things the way he wanted them. Alex was in love and hopeful about his future.
On 07/31/2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., Maryland-National Capital Park Police officers responded to Fort Washington Park after receiving reports of gunfire and a man walking near the Potomac River while armed with a handgun. Corporal Anthony Delozier encountered 30-year-old Alex Charles near the shoreline. During the encounter, Delozier fired his service weapon, striking Charles. Charles was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators reported that a handgun was recovered near his body. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division is leading the investigation into the fatal shooting.
The Attorney General's Office identified the involved officer as Corporal Anthony Delozier, a 15-year veteran of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police who previously served approximately 24 years with the Prince George's County Police Department. As required by agency policy, Delozier was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Court records show that while serving with the Prince George's County Police Department, Delozier was indicted in 2000 on charges including unreasonable force and conspiracy arising from the police canine attack on two homeless men who prosecutors alleged had already surrendered. According to prosecutors, Delozier asked a supervising sergeant whether the dog could "get a bite" before another officer released the canine. One man suffered serious bite injuries. Delozier was ultimately acquitted of the charges. Those prior allegations have received renewed attention following the fatal shooting of Alex Charles.
The Independent Investigations Division has not yet released body-camera footage or additional details describing the events immediately preceding the shooting. The investigation remains active.
Corporal Delozier has a history of prior police brutality incidents including:
- 1995 K-9 attack on two homeless men. Prosecutors alleged the men had already surrendered when Delozier asked a supervising officer whether the police dog could "take a bite." Another officer then released the dog, seriously injuring one of the men. Federal prosecutors alleged Delozier participated in a civil-rights violation and conspiracy.
- 2000 federal indictment. Delozier was indicted on federal civil-rights and conspiracy charges arising from that incident.
- 2001 trial outcome. He was acquitted on one charge at the first trial, the jury deadlocked on another, and after a retrial he was acquitted of the remaining conspiracy charge. He was never convicted.
- Despite the acquittal, the case became one of the better-known excessive-force controversies involving the Prince George's County Police Department's K-9 unit during a period when the department faced extensive federal scrutiny over police dog attacks.
Public statement by a family member:
SOURCE LINKS :
https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Independent-Investigations-Division-Investigating-a-Fatal-Police-Involved-Shooting-in-Fort-Washington-Park-.aspx
https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Decedent-and-Officer-Identified-in-Fatal-Police-Involved-Shooting-in-Fort-Washington-Park-.aspx
https://www.thebanner.com/community/local-news/prince-georges-park-police-shooting-alex-charles-CWOKZ5ZPONCU7IGFILX7VAGPQ4/
https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-national-capital-park-police-prince-georges-county-division-fort-washington-park-officer-involved-shooting-handgun-officer-discharged-firearm-us-park-police-maryland-attorneys-office-investigation-july-31-2026