PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Prince George's County Cop Will Not Be Charged in Fellow Officer's Death By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill The Prince George's County police officer who fatally shot fellow officer Jacai Colson during an ambush attack on a Palmer Park police station in March will not be charged, the county state's attorney announced. A grand jury declined to return an indictment for Officer Taylor Krauss after reviewing the case for seven weeks, Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said during a news conference outside the county's Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro Friday, July 15. Alsobrooks said she spoke with Colson's parents, who live in Pennsylvania, when they visited the county last week and informed them of the grand jury's decision. "I don't know if anyone feels any sense of relief … because this is just excruciating,” she said. "There is no happy ending.
[Colson's family] is disappointed. I think what they want is for people to be held accountable in whatever form that takes. Their son lost his life in a needless way. He showed up to help and serve and was a member of this department and he got killed.” Alsobrooks said Krauss remains on administrative leave while the police department conducts its administrative investigation. No one from the department attended Friday's news conference, but a police spokesman said it's unclear how long the department investigation will take to review evidence and interview witnesses. Colson, 28, who served as an undercover narcotics officer, had come to meet another officer at the police station when he arrived during the March 13 shootout with a man whom had fired at the building. Krauss mistakenly shot Colson, who didn't have on a uniform. The three brothers accused of baiting police into the deadly gunbattle were indicted in May.
5Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks announces that Officer Taylor Krauss won't be charged for
the accidental shooting death of fellow officer Jacai Colson during a news conference at the county's Circuit Courthouse on July 15. / Photo by William J. Ford
Authorities said Michael Ford, 22, hoped to die in the shootout and gave "his last will and testament" just minutes before Malik Ford, 21, drove them and brother Elijah, 18, to the District III Landover station. The younger brothers used cellphones to record Ford shooting at police and randomly at passing vehicles. Michael Ford, faces 55 counts related to the incident, including the murder charge, according to court documents. His two brothers each face 33 counts, including attempted murder, first-degree assault and illegal use of a handgun. Alsobrooks said their trials could begin as soon as October. WI
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Building a Civil Society
Our week of collective tragedy has caused us to reflect on our values and strength. The killing of police officers and the death of two citizens has caused both turmoil and grief. What must be sustained is our American ethic for assembly and life. The Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce mourns the violence on citizens and police and is hopeful that from this our ethic shines. Living in a democracy can be full of contradictions and unrest; however the protections granted through the Bill of Rights provide the hope for sustaining a civil society. Our history is replete with meaningful protest and advocacy convened to bring attention to disparities, even in the light of equal rights. Unfortunately, some had to insist that our stated rights must apply to them. Police should never be gunned down and citizens should not fear their presence. In a civil society, all of us must work toward ending bias and providing pathways for success. Having a society where some have excess and others are in perpetual want breeds tension and this may lead to violence. So that these deaths are not forgotten, let all of us commit to dialogue, truth, justice and equity. We in the business community can be the catalyst for the change. David C. Harrington President & CEO Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce www.pgcoc.org
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