Bodycam footage shows man fatally shot inside Essex house by Baltimore County police

The Maryland Attorney General's Office's Independent Investigations Division identified the officers involved as Officer D. Manning (1.5-year veteran) and Officer E. Pellegrino (11-month veteran). Both are assigned to the Operations Bureau.

The IID identified the decedent as Ralph Picarello III, 39, of Essex.

Police fatally shot a man late Wednesday afternoon inside a house in Essex.

Baltimore County police said they received a domestic disturbance call around 4 p.m. and two officers initially arrived at a house in the 900 block Boundbrook Way in Essex. Police on Wednesday did not disclose the nature of the domestic call.

"The Baltimore County Police Department was responding to a domestic disturbance call," said Thomas Lester, spokesman for the Maryland Attorney General's Office's Independent Investigations Division, which investigates fatal police shootings.

"During that call for service, an individual was shot. That person has since been pronounced deceased," Baltimore County police spokeswoman Joy Stewart said.

On Thursday, the attorney general's office released more details, saying a 911 caller stated that a man inside the house was throwing items at a family member.

The AG's statement said officers arrived and began to speak with the man, who authorities said picked up two knives. The AG said the man did not comply with officers' commands to drop the knives and "moved quickly toward (the) officers." One officer deployed a Taser and two other officers fired their guns, hitting the man.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. No others were injured.

Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt later released a statement via email Wednesday evening, saying: "This was a tragic event and our thoughts are with everyone involved. We are again reminded that our officers face life-threatening situations every day. I have confidence that the office of the attorney general will conduct a thorough investigation. While I can't share details about this incident right now, today, our officers courageously faced a dangerous situation, followed their training, and protected the community."

Friends of the victim said he was 40 years old and that he lived with his parents and sister. Neighbors who have known the family for years are shaken. They said the father is a retired Baltimore City firefighter and the mother is a church secretary. Neighbors said police responded to the house earlier in the week for a domestic disturbance.

"I feel really bad for the parents. They tried, they tried," said Malinda Foster, a neighbor.

Manuel Guzman told 11 News he heard the gunfire.

"I counted three shots. My wife got scared and said, 'Come into the house.' I said, 'I need to know what happened.' This is my neighborhood. It's very concerning," Guzman said.

Lester said investigators are gathering information and evidence. He said the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras, but it wasn't immediately known whether the cameras were functioning at the time of the shooting.