TEMPLE HILLS, Md. - An investigation is underway after an officer-involved shooting in Temple Hills, Maryland, police said.
Jose Alvarez, 23, of the 3700 block of Del Mar Drive in Woodbridge, Va. died Monday after being shot by Corporal Joseph Keifline. He is a 10-year veteran of the department and is assigned to the Bureau of Patrol.
The shooting happened in the 3000 block of Brinkley Road.
According to police, a person called 911 after seeing a suspect, Alvarez, stealing items from his car. When officers arrived on scene, they saw a man who fit the suspect’s description.
When officers tried to talk to Alvarez, police said he ran across the street to Brinkley Road and entered an apartment building. When he ran, he threw two license plates he had stolen earlier, police say. He was later found inside a laundry room.
Police said the man did not comply with officers’ commands and a struggle ensued. Officers tried to use a taser on the man but police said it did not take effect.
During the struggle, police said the man took out a handgun. One officer was able to get his hand the suspect’s gun to prevent him from pointing it at officers. According to police, that is when the man fired the gun twice and an officer fired back, hitting the suspect.
The suspect was pronounced dead on scene.
The officer who grabbed Alvarez's gun was injured in his hand when the gun went off. That gun was recovered in the laundry room.
The involved officer is now on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation which is standard procedure.
A resident in the apartment complex was filming on her cell phone at the time of the shooting. Gunshots can be heard in the video.
Warning: Graphic Content
Natalie Highsmith, who took the cellphone video, said she and her daughter will never be the same.
"As soon as she heard bullets she ducked and was back in," said Highsmith.
Smith said her daughter, Dawnn Vance, and another neighbor had to duck when they heard the bullets.
They heard a female officer scream when the shots were fired.
Prince George's County Police said the female officer put her hand on the suspect's gun and injured her hand from the heat.
The mother and daughter are also commending the heroics of police.
"You could hear him say get back. Even if he had to die, he was trying to protect his own team and everyone in this complex, he was telling everyone to get back," said Vance.
