By Police1 Staff
SILVER SPRING, Md. — A Maryland police department released body cam footage of an officer fatally shooting a man who assaulted and charged at him.
The Montgomery County Police Department released the video of Officer Anand Badgujar fatally shooting 41-year-old Robert White on Wednesday, WTTG reported. The video’s release comes after the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office concluded that the officer’s actions “were justified under the circumstances.”
On June 11, Badgujar had just finished responding to an unrelated call when he noticed White walking with a large rip in the back of his jacket, according to the Washington Post. The officer then saw White move his hand into his right pocket as if he was armed or trying to conceal contraband, prompting the officer to approach him.
The situation soon escalated, and police said White assaulted the officer twice.
Badgujar can be heard on video communicating over the radio, saying White “has his hands in his pockets” and describing the encounter as a possible “suicide by cop type thing.” The officer continues to follow White, who’s seen on video attempting to gain access to a cruiser while yelling “Do it!” several times at the officer.
The officer is heard telling White he doesn’t want to shoot him and says over the radio that White keeps reaching into his pocket.
Badgujar then fires multiple times at White after the suspect charges at him.
White was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to WJLA. Police didn’t find any weapons on him.
Investigators said White pushed Badgujar to the ground at the end of their encounter and gained control over him, where he could have potentially taken the LEO’s firearm and killed him. The officer fired eight rounds at the suspect.
Montgomery police said they released the video as soon as the criminal investigation was completed to demonstrate transparency to the community.
“We want to remain as transparent as possible and try to answer some of the questions and concerns that community members have had,” Montgomery County Police Capt. Paul Starks said. “We still have an ongoing internal investigation where the officer’s action will be measured against our existing rules and policies.”