By Nia Fitzhugh
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Baltimore law enforcement officials have identified the former corrections officer killed in a gun battle with two police officers on Wednesday.
Officials also have identified one of the two officers wounded in the shooting. Officer 1st Class Swiney, a 31-year veteran of the department, was permanently assigned to the U.S. Marshal’s Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. His first name was not released.
Law enforcement officials said Michael Marullo, 33, was a former Maryland corrections officer.
According to The Baltimore Sun, a judge issued the arrest warrant after local police in Pennsylvania charged Marullo with attempted homicide, gun charges and reckless endangerment, following an incident involving Marullo firing a gun during an argument in Lower Chichester Township Pennsylvania Tuesday night. The suspect also was recently acquitted of destruction of property in Baltimore last week.
The gun battle erupted around noon Wednesday in the 5900 block of Radecke Avenue. Marullo was pronounced dead at the scene.
“At some point the suspect was outside … shots were fired,” Michael Harrison, Baltimore Police commissioner, told reporters. “Our officers were hit. The suspect was hit and was fatally wounded.”
Swiney and a Baltimore City police officer were rushed to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Unit. He was listed in serious condition. Authorities said Swiney has no previous officer-involved shootings.
“We believe both officers are going to be OK,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said after visiting one of the wounded officers