Peyton Ham allegedly carried an airsoft rifle and a knife.
Maryland State Police are investigating a shooting in Leonardtown that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old.
Just before 1:30 p.m. local time Tuesday, police received two separate 911 calls about a man acting suspiciously while holding what looked like a gun, police said in a statement Tuesday night.
An integrated military troop from Maryland then arrived on the scene and confronted a male teenager, now identified as Peyton Ham. Police were armed with a rifle and a knife.
Maryland police, Leonardtown Barrack, shared the news of the shooting on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon, saying a troop was responding to a report from a possible gunman.
According to the police statement, a witness told the investigating officers that they saw Ham take a shooting position and aim his rifle at the troop, and at that point the soldier shot at Ham and wounded him.
A second witness allegedly told investigators that the officer first saw Ham pull out a knife and try to get up. The soldier then ordered Ham to drop the knife before firing again, the statement said.
Police, who have been assigned to the Leonardtown Barrack and have been a troop in Maryland for nearly three years, have reported the shooting.
Ham went to the MedStar St. Mary’s hospital transport, where he was pronounced dead, reads the statement. An autopsy will be performed soon.
After the incident, a knife was found at the scene. “Ham’s gun was later found to be an airsoft rifle, which is a close representation of a real handgun,” police said.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is now conducting a criminal investigation, as well as the Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Division – which according to the statement are regular procedures in all shooting incidents. Investigators also continue to interview witnesses.
The soldier was not injured in the incident. He was placed on administrative leave while the investigation continued, something that according to police is the standard procedure for shootings involving troops.