Direct from the Sheriff's Dept:
At approximately 5:28 a.m. the St. Mary's County Emergency Communications Center received a call that there was a man with a gun at the Burke's Mobile Home Trailer Park. Trooper Matt Davis of the Maryland State Police was the first unit to arrive on the scene and shortly thereafter was joined by Deputy First Class Kevin Somerville of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. At 5:37 a.m. the St.
Mary's County Sheriff's Office Hostage Negotiators and Emergency Services Team was called to the scene. Upon their arrival a perimeter was established, all area business' and residents were evacuated and local roads were closed.
It was learned that a female victim Ayanna L. Taylor had been fatally shot by her boyfriend Joseph Herbert Smith Jr., 33 years old from Calvert County. Mr. Smith then took Delayla Taylor hostage and a stand off with police ensued. Efforts were made through family members and Negotiators of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office to negotiate a peaceful ending. At 7:20 a.m. the suspect Mr. Smith spoke to a relative on the phone and claimed that he was going to come out and surrender. Mr. Smith then exited the trailer with what appeared to be a weapon in hand and began pointing it at officers on the scene. Mr. Smith refused orders to put the object down and was fatally shot. The object was later determined to be the barrel of the shotgun used to shoot victim Taylor. This incident is being investigated by the Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Unit.
At approximately 5:28 a.m. the St. Mary's County Emergency Communications Center received a call that there was a man with a gun at the Burke's Mobile Home Trailer Park. Trooper Matt Davis of the Maryland State Police was the first unit to arrive on the scene and shortly thereafter was joined by Deputy First Class Kevin Somerville of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. At 5:37 a.m. the St.
Mary's County Sheriff's Office Hostage Negotiators and Emergency Services Team was called to the scene. Upon their arrival a perimeter was established, all area business' and residents were evacuated and local roads were closed.
It was learned that a female victim Ayanna L. Taylor had been fatally shot by her boyfriend Joseph Herbert Smith Jr., 33 years old from Calvert County. Mr. Smith then took Delayla Taylor hostage and a stand off with police ensued. Efforts were made through family members and Negotiators of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office to negotiate a peaceful ending. At 7:20 a.m. the suspect Mr. Smith spoke to a relative on the phone and claimed that he was going to come out and surrender. Mr. Smith then exited the trailer with what appeared to be a weapon in hand and began pointing it at officers on the scene. Mr. Smith refused orders to put the object down and was fatally shot. The object was later determined to be the barrel of the shotgun used to shoot victim Taylor. This incident is being investigated by the Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs Unit.
