Critical Investigation Updates

This page includes information regarding Gaithersburg Police Department police-involved incidents that are investigated by the Independent Investigations Division (IID).

Pursuant to Maryland Code, State Government Article Section 6-602, the IID investigates all police-involved incidents that result in the death of an individual or injuries that are likely to result in the death of an individual occurring in the State of Maryland.

Upon completion of the investigation and review by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, the IID will release a statement confirming it has completed the investigation along with its findings.

The IID will generally release the name of the involved officers within two business days of the incident although that period may be extended, if necessary, pursuant to IID protocol. The IID will generally release body camera footage, dashboard camera, and/or other related video within 20 days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary, pursuant to IID protocol.

In-Custody Death - December 24, 2024

On Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at approximately 10:15 p.m., Gaithersburg officers responded to the 300 block of North Summit Avenue for a man causing a disturbance.

Upon arrival, officers encountered an adult male lying on the ground in front of an apartment building. The man was covered in blood, conscious, and acting erratically. The man then stood up and walked away from the apartment building. The officers recognized the man required medical treatment, so they held him while they provided life-saving measures, to include the deployment of an AED, until Fire Rescue responded and transported the man to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead on Thursday, December 26, 2024.

Per Maryland law, the investigation into the incident has been handed over to the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID). All media inquiries should be directed to the IID.

Officer-Involved Shooting - January 8, 2021

On Friday, January 8, 2021, an officer-involved shooting resulted in the death of 24-year-old Kwamena Ocran. On March 15, 2021, the case was turned over to the Howard County State’s Attorney for review and further investigation. On October 7, 2021, a Montgomery County Grand Jury returned a decision of no indictment. The Grand Jury report, prepared by the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office, was publicly released by the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and is linked below.

More information about the incident can be reviewed at these links:

Below are links to portions of audio from interviews with each of the four officers involved in the shooting, that relate to the discharge of their weapons. The questioning was conducted in Howard County by the Deputy State’s Attorney for Howard County. Also present during the interviews was a homicide detective and legal counsel for each of the four officers. The statements given by the officers were voluntary.

Incident Background

We understand that the incident has raised many questions in our community. As our nation grapples with Police Reform efforts that have taken on a much needed sense of urgency since the protests for racial justice during the summer of 2020, many are calling for instituting best practices for investigating and adjudicating police-involved shootings and use of force. In Gaithersburg, many of those reform efforts were already integral to our policies and practices and have been for several years. We invite you to review those policies & practices here.

The Gaithersburg Police Department uses an outside, independent agency to conduct the investigation of police involved shootings, a practice that has been in place for over a decade. See the Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations section above for details on the independent review arrangement, in which Montgomery County Police investigates the incident for the Howard County State’s Attorney.

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Incident Background