Body camera video
Body cam video of the Oct. 22 Erdman Avenue shooting, released by Baltimore police. Video: Baltimore Police Department body-worn camera, via @thefactsdude on X.
Baltimore, Maryland · Shooting Oct. 22, 2026 · Body camera video released Nov. 4, 2026
By Facts News Group Staff
The Baltimore Police Department on Wednesday released body camera video of an Oct. 22 police shooting in the 3900 block of Erdman Avenue, near the Erdman Shopping Center. The Maryland Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division is investigating and has identified the officer as Phil Polanco, a seven-year veteran of the department assigned to its Operations Bureau.
Status at a glance
- The shooting happened at about 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, according to the Attorney General's office. A firearm was recovered at the scene, and the officer was not injured.
- The officer is Phil Polanco, a seven-year veteran assigned to the Operations Bureau, the Attorney General's office said Oct. 26.
- The man who was shot, 44, remains in critical but stable condition, police said Wednesday. He has not been named.
- No charges against the man have been reported.
What investigators say happened
According to the Attorney General's office, the officer was in a marked cruiser stopped at a stop sign when he encountered a man walking onto a shopping center parking lot at Erdman Avenue and Ravenwood Avenue. The man approached the cruiser and later ran. The officer followed in his cruiser, then got out and chased the man on foot.
During the foot chase, the man pointed a firearm at the officer, and the officer fired, striking him, the Attorney General's office said. That account is from the preliminary investigation, and no court has ruled on it.
Officers gave aid until emergency medical services took over, and the man was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, the office said. Baltimore police said Wednesday that the man, 44, remains in critical but stable condition, according to CBS Baltimore, WMAR and FOX45.
Police said the officer was working a crime suppression assignment, according to WMAR and FOX45. Police have said they do not know why the man ran, according to CBS Baltimore and FOX45.
The body camera video
Police released the officer's body-worn camera video along with private surveillance footage from the area, CBS Baltimore reported. The Attorney General's office said Oct. 23 that the officer's body camera recorded the incident and that the video would be released under police department and Attorney General policies.
The Attorney General's office has not publicly described what the video shows. CBS Baltimore reported that the video shows the man running from the officer, then turning back toward him and pointing a weapon in his direction before the officer fires.
The image above is a still from the released body camera video. Facts News Group is not embedding the full video.
What the mayor said
In a statement the day of the shooting, Mayor Brandon M. Scott said the case had been sent to the Attorney General's office for investigation.
"While we await the outcome of that investigation, I want to underscore that we will not tolerate violence against BPD officers doing their jobs, and we cannot have individuals dangerously wielding firearms in our communities- especially near libraries and child care centers, which should be safe spaces. We are fortunate that others were not injured," Scott said.
Scott said his Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement would set up a Coordinated Neighborhood Stabilization Response to offer trauma-informed resources and support to the community.
Who investigates
Under Maryland law, the Attorney General's office must investigate police-involved incidents that result in a death or in injuries likely to result in death. The Attorney General's office and the police department have agreed the state investigation can proceed while the department meets its obligations under its federal consent decree.
Anyone with information or video is asked to contact the Independent Investigations Division at (410) 576-7070 or IID@oag.maryland.gov.
Still unknown
- The name of the man who was shot.
- Whether he will be charged.
- Why he approached the cruiser and why he ran.
- The findings of the Attorney General's investigation.
Sources
- Maryland Office of the Attorney General, "Officer Identified in Police-Involved Shooting in the City of Baltimore," Oct. 26, 2026 – oag.maryland.gov
- Maryland Office of the Attorney General, "Independent Investigations Division Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in the City of Baltimore," Oct. 23, 2026 – oag.maryland.gov
- Office of Mayor Brandon M. Scott, statement on police-involved shooting, Oct. 22, 2026 – baltimorecity.gov
- CBS Baltimore, Nov. 4, 2026 – cbsnews.com
- WMAR, Nov. 4, 2026 – wmar2news.com
- FOX45 (WBFF), Nov. 4, 2026 – foxbaltimore.com
Do you have a story idea? Send us your tip.
Facts News Group corrects errors openly. If you see something wrong, tell us here, and we'll note any correction on this story.
