UPDATE: Police: A Traffic Stop on I-270 Ended in Suicide
State police: The man shot himself after being stopped for not wearing a seatbelt.
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Update, 6:20 p.m., Jan. 20:
Maryland State Police have identified the driver of the Ford Focus who police said fatally shot himself during a traffic stop on Interstate 270 on Friday afternoon as a 27-year-old Gaithersburg man. The man's body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy, police said in a news release Sunday.
Update, 9:45 p.m., Jan. 18:
A man fatally shot himself after being stopped by a state trooper near the Montrose Road exit of Interstate 270 on Friday afternoon, Maryland State Police said.
Police are working to identify the man, state police said in a news release Friday evening.
Multiple lanes of I-270 northbound were closed for several hours due to the police investigation, leading to significant traffic delays during the evening rush at the start of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.
According to police, a state trooper from the Rockville barrack was patrolling northbound on I-270 before Montrose Road (Exit 4) shortly after 4 p.m. when he saw the driver of a 1997 Ford Focus driving without a seatbelt.
The trooper initiated a traffic stop and the driver pulled the car over on the right shoulder without incident, police said. As the trooper exited his vehicle he heard a gun shot and immediately returned to his vehicle to request backup, the release said.
“The trooper gave verbal commands to the driver but he did not respond,” the release said.
When backup arrived, the troopers again tried to communicate, telling the driver to exit the vehicle, police said. When the driver did not respond, the troopers approached the car and found the driver unresponsive with “what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his upper torso,” the release said. They also saw a handgun near the car’s center console, the release said.
The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service was called. Responders performed emergency procedures before pronouncing the man dead at the scene, the release said. His body will be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy, police said.
The investigation is ongoing. Investigators from the Rockville barrack and state police crime scene technicians were still processing the scene at 9 p.m. Friday.
The state police Homicide Unit will be conducting the investigation, police said.
Original post, 6:13 p.m., Jan. 18:
A police investigation of a possible suicide closed three northbound lanes of Interstate 270 just before the Montrose Road exit in Rockville during the height of Friday afternoon’s rush hour.
HOV restrictions had been lifted for I-270 and at least one lane had reopened by 5:30 p.m., Maryland State Police said. Significant delays remained.
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Officer Britta Thomas, a Montgomery County police spokeswoman, said county police responded shortly after 4 p.m. and that the investigation involved “a possible suicide.” She referred further questions to Maryland State Police, who are now handling the investigation.
A person reached in the MSP’s Rockville barrack said police are not commenting on the investigation at this time.
Ryan Norris
11:09 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
My sincere condolences to the family of this troubled man! And I am sorry that this individual had reached such a level of despair and loss of self-worth that he felt that his only option was to end his own life. I am also thankful that this man did the honorable thing and keep this violent act to himself rather than take innocent bystanders down with him. As a veteran Paramedic and Firefighter, I am glad he did not choose to end his own life by purposely colliding with another vehicle and compounding this tragedy!
To "Frank" in the above comment: Sir, I sincerely hope that you are not so naive as to think that a knife is less deadly than a gun. I hope that you are not so naive as to insinuate that A GUN killed this man! . This man chose his own destiny! The gun did not raise itself from a secure position, point it's muzzle in the diection of the man's chest, and squeeze its own trigger! His method of suicide was only one of many, many possibilities. I sincerely hope that your comment above is not an implication that A lack of firearms in this nation is somehow going to prevent random tragedies such as this. With such a belief, you would have to disregard the power of human imagination and ingenuity. Death still happened before the invention of gun powder! Those who wish to cause death will find a way!
C.Z. Guy
8:28 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
That's right Frank, there wouldn't be any suicides if not for those awful guns
Wso
10:16 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Do you people really not understand what "Frank" was saying? Had the officers not heard a gunshot, they wouldn't have feared for their own lives so they would've approached the car sooner and might have been able to save his life. Use your brains, people -- not everyone is trying to take away your precious guns..
latasha ross
12:01 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I'm praying for the family and friends of this young man. God is still a good God! He does no wrong. How do we even know if he intentionally shot himself?
HelloKT
12:48 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Frank,
Do you know what SUICIDE means? This matter doesn't have anything to do with what weapon is deadlier. He WANTED to kill himself. If he had a knife, he would have made sure of it that he would be dead.
Btw, I'm NOT a gun owner. And don't have any aspirations in being one. Just to make that clear and so no one makes any assumptions.
HelloKT
12:50 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Latasha,
You make a really good point!
Sean R. Sedam
2:44 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I agree. The state police news release (which is linked to in the article) called it a suicide, which is why it is attributed to "Police: ..." in the headline. But the final ruling would be made by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, which is also mentioned in the article.
Dman
2:49 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
So y'all are actually making statements on the choice of weapons than to think his family wouldn't read this. That was my friend and classmate that we won't b able to see on our 10 year reunion. Not knowing what was going thru his mind or what problems he may or may not have had but sometimes things happen. Things happen for a reason now can u please just leave it alone unless u know the guy
HelloKT
4:35 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Like I said, this situation has nothing to do with what is deadlier. (You seem to be stuck on that for some reason). If this guy actually intended to commit suicide, he would of made sure of it. Surely you understand that not all pull overs by the police end in someone offing themselves don't you?
HelloKT
5:04 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Please site me a situation where someone attempted suicide to get away from law enforcement and their attempted ended up unsuccessful
Ryan Norris
5:51 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
There have always been unsuccessful suicides regardless of the method used or body part effected. Even with head and/or brain injuries.
Dman, I am truly sorry for the loss of your friend.
In hindsight, I realized that the article, and my statement, insinuated that this was a suicide. This may not be the case. It could very well have been an accidental shooting. The man may have simply been trying to hide his gun, prior to the the officer approaching his vehicle, when the gun fired. Hopefully the medical examiner can help offer answers for those affected by this tragedy.
Sean R. Sedam
9:40 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
This comment removed for violating Patch's Terms of Use.
srw
10:20 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
A comment Imade earlier was removed. Too much cursing. Sorry. I'm just upset. I have known him since we were 5. Started and finished school together. His name is jermaine jackson. A beautiful person. Please try to remeber that when y'all making comments. He has family and friends that will truly mourn his loss. Plz plz plz respect his memory and his family and friends' grief
Buddy Budinkco
10:41 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
"Sad. Had he tried to kill himself with anything other than a gun in the same situation, there is a good chance that he would still be alive."
Yeah, Frank... I am CERTAIN that if the man had a hand grenade or a simple single edged razor blade he'd be at Disney World. Have you forgotten to take your meds, Frank? I have NEVER seen ANY gun move on it's own, load itself, engage its shell, pull its own hammer back aim itself and pull its own trigger; however, if YOU have, please do everyone a favor and dial 911 and have them take you directly to the nearest Psych Ward, okay?
Buddy Budinkco
10:45 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Any updates on his family and friends? Praying for their GREAT LOSS!! =(
Buddy Budinkco
10:50 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
If anyone hears one of your friends talking about suicide, take it very seriously; it's usually a cry for help. if someone you know is depressed, try and reach out to them. Unfortunately we live in a world full of very high stresses... Be a friend and listen!
srw
11:30 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Buddy, I talked to his mother tonight. She's making it. Just keep us in ur prayers
Buddy Budinkco
11:39 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Will do!! Thank you so much, my friend; God bless!
jnrentz1
9:01 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
I wish to offer my condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Jackson. One of the subjects that is important to this discussion is treatment for mental and emotional disorders. Suicide is usually the "permanent solution to a temporary problem." The person who commits suicide is all too often a depressed person who is not getting the help they need.
It is my hope that when the Affordable Care Act takes full effect that all Americans will be able to received proper treatment for mental, and emotional disorders as well as those that are physical.
RIP Mr. Jackson.