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Howard Theodore Coleman, Jr.

Age : 42

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 08/18/2024

Location : 9300 block of Brechin Place

City : Waldorf

County : Charles

State : Maryland

Agency : Charles County Sheriff’s Office, CCSO’s Emergency Services Team (EST)

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/18/2024, Howard Theodore Coleman Jr., 42, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a Charles County Sheriff’s Office tactical operation at a residence in the 9300 block of Brechin Place in Waldorf. Officers initially went to the home for a welfare check after the family of Coleman’s girlfriend, who lived out of state, reported that they had not heard from her for several days and were concerned for her safety. The family told police that she was in a physically abusive relationship with Coleman.
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Patrol officers were unable to contact the woman. After officers learned additional information about the situation, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division took over the investigation and obtained a search warrant for the residence. The Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Team was deployed to execute the warrant.
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Coleman did not cooperate when the tactical team arrived. Officers deployed a drone and entered the residence while hostage negotiators established telephone contact with Coleman. During the negotiations, police learned that the woman had suffered multiple stab wounds and severe lacerations. Authorities reported that Coleman had access to firearms and other weapons inside the house.
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While negotiators continued speaking with Coleman, members of the Emergency Services Team entered the house and reached the injured woman. Officers removed her from the residence and transferred her to waiting emergency medical personnel. She was flown to a hospital in critical condition with multiple stab wounds to her head and upper body and a possible broken jaw.
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At approximately the same time that officers rescued the woman, Coleman shot himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene with a handgun beside him. Investigators subsequently recovered a rifle, handgun, bulletproof vests and large-capacity magazines from the residence.
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The Charles County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Services processed the scene, and Detective Worley of the Criminal Investigations Division investigated the incident.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND
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The Emergency Services Team personnel involved in the tactical entry and rescue have not been publicly identified.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2024/08/21/violent-standoff-in-waldorf-ends-with-victim-rescued-suspect-dead/
https://www.ccso.us/press-releases/14844/
https://thebaynet.com/officers-successfully-rescue-injured-woman-held-captive-by-boyfriend-in-waldorf/