'Weapon Of Death' Found In Car Of Suspected Gang Member Following Fatal Crash
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis described an extremely lethal weapon officers discovered on a suspected gang member as a "weapon of death."
Ava-joye Burnett reports the commissioner said they found the gun after a car crash where an innocent woman was killed.
Police say the situation started when an officer tried to pull someone over, but they kept on going. By the end of the night, an extremely dangerous, semi-automatic handgun, capable of holding fifty rounds was found and a 66-year-old woman was killed.
"This is a weapon of death," says Baltimore City Police Commissioner Kevin Davis.
"This is a weapon that's on the streets of our city."
Police say the man behind the wheel was Ryan Hazel, and when officers tried to pull him over, they say he didn't stop.
The commissioner said there was a brief pursuit in West Baltimore at the exact moment, 66-year-old Margaret Hall was driving through the intersection near South Mount St.
Witnesses say the driver slammed into her.
"She never had a chance. Ms. Hall died due to her injuries from the crash right there on the scene," says Commissioner Davis.
Hazel attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody by officers who were nearby on the scene of an unrelated traffic stop.
Davis says Ryan Hazel, who is now in custody, is "a validated Blood gang member."
"Her feet was stuck in the car, they had to cut it all the way out," says one eyewitness.
"It's a hurtful thing to see and a hurtful thing to go through. I'm really sad that her family has to endure the hurt and the pain," she says.
Witnesses say the impact was so powerful, multiple cars that were parked along South Mount were also hit.
After that devastating collision, the commissioner said his officers found drugs and the gun in the car Hazel was driving.
The commissioner said Hazel is a known gang member, who was found guilty of a gun violation. Hazel was sentenced to three years in prison after a March 2015 handgun violation, but two years and six months of that sentence were suspended.
"It's because Hazel was on the street and not in jail, that Ms. Hall is not with us today," said Commissioner Davis.
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