Forest Hill Shooting Was 'Suicide By Law Enforcement': Prosecutor

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — More than two months after two deputies fatally shot a man in Forest Hill this spring, the Harford County state's attorney ruled that the officers involved acted in a way that was "both necessary and proportional."

John Raymond Fauver, 53, of the 1400 block of Old Pylesville Road in Whiteford, was pronounced deceased at an area trauma center on Saturday, April 23, officials said. Deputies fired at Fauver after officers were called around 2:45 p.m. that day to handle a report of a suicidal person believed to be in possession of a long gun, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

After searching for nearly an hour and conversing with the man over the phone, investigators said they found him behind the CVS in the 1500 block of Rock Spring Road in Forest Hill.

In addition to reviewing body camera and dash-cam video and audio recordings, Harford County State's Attorney Albert Peisinger said he interviewed witnesses and assessed "relevant Facebook postings and other relevant material" in conducting his review of the incident. Members of his office also went to the scene on Rock Spring Road.

"Our review of this information leads our office to the conclusion that the use of force on April 23, 2022, was both necessary and proportional and not unreasonable under these circumstances," Peisinger said in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 29. "I categorize this unfortunate incident as suicide by law enforcement."

As a result of the review by his office, Peisinger said he would not be pressing charges against the officers involved in the shooting. His office

The Maryland attorney general's office was called to investigate in accordance with a state law passed in October 2021 mandating it investigate all police-involved fatalities. The Independent Investigations Division (IID) is still investigating the death of Fauver, the agency reported Wednesday.

"Today, the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office released a letter to the press stating they were declining to bring charges against the involved deputies in the April 23 shooting," Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said in a statement. "The IID will continue to complete a thorough, independent investigation, as the Maryland legislature has charged us to do. The investigation includes information that has not yet been requested or reviewed by the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. When our investigation is complete, we will present it to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office and, when appropriate, release it to the public."

Help For Those Considering Suicide

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources available to help.

Call the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center at 410-874-0711 or the 24/7 crisis hotline at 800-NEXT-STEP (800-639-8783). The hotline is operated by behavioral health professionals who can help direct callers to behavioral health, mental health and addiction treatment resources.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (or 1-800-784-2433). Its website offers services including a live chat.

Related:

• Man Killed By Deputies Identified: Harford County Sheriff
• Attorney General Sues Harford Sheriff Over Deputy Shooting Probe
• Man Killed In Forest Hill Encounter With Deputies
• 2 Officers Identified In Forest Hill Shooting: Harford County Sheriff
• Harford County Judge Orders Sheriff To Surrender Evidence: Report