Video From Deadly Forest Hill Deputy Shooting Released

FOREST HILLS, MD — Investigators released video showing the encounter in Forest Hill that resulted in deputies killing a man.

John Fauver, 53, was shot after he got an item out of his truck and pointed it at deputies, according to the Independent Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General. The attorney general's office was called to investigate in accordance with a state law mandating it handle deadly police-involved shootings.

Fauver was killed on April 23. Officers were called about a suicidal person with access to firearms around 4 p.m. and found him in a truck in the 1500 block of Rock Spring Road in Forest Hill, according to investigators.

After one sergeant got out of his patrol car and ordered Fauver out of his truck at gunpoint, the man started to drive away, prompting the officer to shoot multiple rounds at the tires, officials said.

In the newly released videos, which show the incident from multiple vantage points through dashboard cameras and body cameras, officers tried to talk Fauver into getting out of his truck and coming to them with his hands up. However, he appeared to hover near his truck's door and multiple times reached into his truck for something.

At one point about 10 minutes into the exchange in the parking lot behind Chopstix restaurant, Fauver got out of his truck, then "retrieved an item from his truck and pointed it at deputies," at which point one sergeant and one corporal at the scene shot him. "A cane was recovered near Mr. Fauver's body," the attorney general reported.

Earlier in the videos, officers said: "It's a cane" and were aware there was a cane in the car. One officer said there were guns in the vehicle as well, but said it was unclear where they were.

Deputies provided aid until medical personnel arrived and took Fauver to an area hospital, where he died, officials said.

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

Normally, the attorney general makes public footage within 14 days of an incident, in this case, authorities said they needed to delay the release of the videos to ensure witness statements were not compromised.

As of Thursday, the attorney general reported its Independent Investigations Division was still investigating the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting.

On June 29, the Harford County state's attorney reported it determined the death of Fauver was "suicide by law enforcement" and would not result in charges against the deputies.

“The lawfulness of the deputies’ actions was obvious, and I found no reason to make our Harford County community wait for the Attorney General to come to the same conclusions that I did," Harford County State's Attorney Albert Peisinger said in a statement following the release of the video on July 7.

Related: Forest Hill Shooting Was 'Suicide By Law Enforcement,' Prosecutor Says

"Doing what is right by the decedent’s family, the deputies involved, and the community at large, once a decision had been made, was my priority," Peisinger said. "I reviewed the same evidence that the Harford County Sheriff’s Office turned over to IIU and we both received 100% cooperation from Sheriff Gahler and his Office.”

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.