Authorities have reported that a Wicomico County sheriff’s deputy was shot and murdered late on Sunday night while attempting to apprehend a wanted individual in Pittsville, Maryland
The wanted suspect was seen by Wicomico County Deputy First Class Glenn Hilliard as he was exiting the Talbot Apartments on Gumboro Road in Pittsville, according to the sheriff’s office. After a foot chase ensued, Officer Hilliard was shot while attempting to apprehend the offender, who was later determined to be Austin J. Davidson, 20, from Delmar, Maryland.
Wicomico County Sheriff's Deputy First Class Glenn Hilliard has died hours after he was shot trying to make an arrest in Pittsville, MD. Suspect in custody. Deputy Hilliard leaves behind a wife and 3 children. He would have turned 42 next week pic.twitter.com/7Riimzrt3h
— Steve Chenevey FOX5 (@stevechenevey) June 13, 2022
The suspect was later arrested after a prolonged manhunt that involved dozens of law enforcement personnel from throughout the region. At this time, the defendant is waiting to be arraigned.
Before the shooting, Davidson was sought on two active warrants issued out of Somerset County and Ocean City, according to the data kept by the courts in Maryland. He is now facing charges of murder in the first and second degree, as well as assault in the first and second degree, reckless endangerment, and the use of a handgun in the commission of a violent offense. He will appear in court on Tuesday at 9 a.m. for a hearing to evaluate his bail or bond, but in the meanwhile, he is being held without bond.
The suspect has been charged in the murder of Dep. Glenn Hilliard.
Wicomico Sheriff’s office: “The suspect, Austin Jacob Allen Davidson, 20, of Delmar, Maryland, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder….”
And other charges listed below. @wjz pic.twitter.com/esZTFndMrg
— Avajoye Burnett (@AvajoyeWJZ) June 13, 2022
According to the sheriff’s office, Hilliard had been working in law enforcement for the past 16 years and would have turned 42 on the following Wednesday, June 22. His wife and children are heartbroken by the loss of their hero.
Wicomico Couty Sheriff Mike Lewis shared these words in a press conference that was covered by WBOC:
“Someone like this should not have been out on the streets,” Lewis said. “It’s unacceptable” this guy didn’t serve any jail time for armed robbery.”
“This is not a gun issue; it’s a behavior issue,” Lewis said. “When asked why he did the armed robbery, what was [Davidson’s] response? ‘Because I can.’ He’s wreaked hell all over the Lower Eastern Shore. That’s why we had multiple warrants.”
Hogan who expressed his condolences to Hilliard’s family and the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, said, “Glenn Hilliard died doing what he loved. This is just a horrendous crime, tragedy. It happens far too often. These are men and women who every single day put their lives on the line. We owe them a tremendous amount of gratitude.”
Hogan also echoed Lewis’ concerns about the need for truth in sentencing, agreeing with Lewis about the laxity of Baltimore City judges when it comes to the treatment of violent criminals.
Sheriff Mike Lewis is right, the suspected killer should’ve never been in the streets, to begin with, but in the age where liberal Judges are rampant, there are no longer real consequences for crime.
