Maryland Officer Wins Fatal Standoff With Suspect


Updated: March 21st, 2006 11:15 AM EDT


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NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON
The Baltimore Sun



An Oxon Hill man was fatally shot in La Plata by a Charles County sheriff's officer after the man fired at three officers who were attempting to arrest him, authorities said.

Jonathan Zacharias Lyles, 24, was in a vehicle on Zekiah Run Road when Officer James Thompson spotted it backed up over a curb at 7:15 a.m. Saturday and called for assistance, police said.

Officers Clint Walter and Jonathan Rager responded. The officers gave Lyles a sobriety test and concluded that Lyles was under the influence.

When the officers tried to arrest Lyles, he brandished a gun and fired once at the officers, said Kristen Timko, a spokeswoman for the Charles County Sheriff's Office. No officers were struck, she said.

Walter fired once at Lyles and struck him in the chest, Timko said. Lyles was flown by helicopter to Prince George's Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said they recovered a semiautomatic handgun from the scene.

The three officers have been placed on administrative leave.

Timko said that it has been 15 years since a Charles County officer last shot and killed a suspect.