Attorney General Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting in Riverdale Park Under Investigation 19-SEP-2022

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BALTIMORE, MD (September 20, 2022) – The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Riverdale Park, Maryland, on Monday afternoon.

On September 19, at approximately 3:30 p.m., officers with the Riverdale Park Police Department responded to a home in the 4700 block of Oglethorpe Street in Riverdale Park for the report of a suicidal man who had access to firearms. Once on scene, officers spoke for several minutes with the man at the front door of the home. The man retreated inside the home and then to an upstairs bedroom. Officers followed the man inside the home and gave him commands to stop. The man did not comply. Once inside the bedroom, the man pointed a handgun at officers. One officer discharged their firearm, striking the man. Officers rendered aid until medical personnel arrived. The man was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Independent Investigations Division will generally release the name of the decedent and involved officer within 48 hours of the incident, though that period may be extended if there is a specific reason to believe that an officer’s safety is at risk.

The body-worn camera of the involved officer was active during the incident. The Independent Investigations Division will generally release body camera footage within 14 days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 14 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.
 

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Decedent and Officer Identified in Fatal Police Shooting in Riverdale Park

BALTIMORE, MD (September 21, 2022) –
The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and involved officer in the fatal shooting that occurred on September 19 in Riverdale Park.

The decedent has been identified as 75-year-old Bryan Coupal, of Riverdale Park, Maryland. The involved officer has been identified as Riverdale Park Police Officer Chad Sunday. He has been with the department for 2 years and is assigned to the Bureau of Patrol. Officer Sunday has a total of 12 years of law-enforcement experience.

The Independent Investigations Division continues to investigate the circumstances of the fatal shooting. To read the original news release, click here.
 

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Body-Worn Camera Footage from Fatal Police-Involved Shooting in Riverdale Park Released

BALTIMORE, MD (October 11, 2022) –
The Independent Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General today released the body-worn camera footage from the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on September 19, 2022, in Riverdale Park, Maryland. The decedent was identified as 75-year-old Bryan Coupal, of Riverdale Park.

The Independent Investigations Division continues to investigate the circumstances of the fatal shooting. To read the original news release, click here.
 

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Investigative Report Released for September 2022 Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting in Riverdale Park

BALTIMORE, MD (March 29, 2023)
– The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Office of the Attorney General today released its investigative report of the September 19, 2022, fatal officer-involved shooting in Riverdale Park.

On September 19, 2022, officers with the Riverdale Park Police Department responded to a home in the 4700 block of Oglethorpe Street in Riverdale Park for the report of a suicidal man who had access to firearms. Once on scene, officers spoke with the man identified as Bryan Coupal for approximately 20 minutes at the front door of the home. During their conversation, Mr. Coupal admitted to having gunsinside the house. While Officer Chad Sunday was speaking with Mr. Coupal, Mr. Coupal sat down on the stepsimmediately inside the doorway of the home. He later retreated inside the houseand walked into an upstairs bedroom. Officer Sunday gave Mr. Coupal repeated commandsto stay downstairs, but he did not comply. Once inside the bedroom, Mr. Coupal picked up a gunand pointed it at Officer Sunday but did not fire.Officer Sunday discharged his firearm, striking Mr. Coupal. Officers rendered aid until medical personnel arrived. Mr. Coupal was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. No officers were injured.

The IID concluded its investigation on March 8, 2023, and forwarded its investigative report to the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office on March 9, 2023. The Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office notified Riverdale Park Police on March 16, 2023, of its decision not to prosecute the case.

The IID’s report contains detailed investigative findings and an analysis of relevant legal issues. Because the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office—not the IID—retains prosecution authority in this case, the report does not make any recommendations as to whether any individual should or should not be charged. A copy of the investigative report can be found here.

By law, the IID’s report must remain confidential until any related prosecution is completed or the State’s Attorney’s Office declines to prosecute. If the local State’s Attorney decides to prosecute the matter, the IID will release the report, with appropriate redactions for confidentiality, within 30 days of a final judgment of all defendants in the case. If the local State’s Attorney declines to prosecute, the IID will release the report, with appropriate redactions for confidentiality, within 30 days of that determination.
 
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