Police Shoot Armed Man In Dundalk
DUNDALK, Md. (WJZ) -- Police shoot an armed robbery suspect after a woman awoke to find a masked man inside her home.
Meghan McCorkell has the latest on this developing investigation.
Police say the armed man broke into that Dundalk home. An officer was forced to shoot the suspect several times after he pointed a semi-automatic handgun at police.
It was just after 10 a.m. inside a home in the 3200-block of Wallford Drive. A woman awoke to find a stranger inside her home, wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun.
"She was obviously frightened and distraught. She contacted a next door neighbor. The neighbor called 911 and initiated the police response," said Elise Armacost, Baltimore County Police.
Officers rushed to the home. At least one fired their service weapon in back of the house, hitting the suspect who was carrying a semi-automatic weapon.
The 27-year-old suspect was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was identified as Christopher Kane Bernert, 27.
Neighbors say they didn't hear a thing.
"I came out to take my little one to school and that's when I noticed all the cops and everything was roped off," said neighbor Jessica Mejia.
Sky Eye Chopper 13 was over the scene as detectives combed through evidence. Crime scene investigators used cones to mark possible shell casings.
With crime scene tape still up here in the community, neighbors are on edge about the attempted home invasion.
"I live a couple of streets down and it just makes you wonder. My goodness, in your own neighborhood. It's kind of frightening," said neighbor Donald Ratsch.
The incident happened within walking distance of two schools.
"It is scary, especially with all my kids being around here and the school in session and everything. It's scary," said Mejia.
As officers stand guard outside the home, police continue to investigate what happened inside.
Bernert has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed robbery, first-degree burglary and firearm use in a felony crime. He is currently being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center without bail.
Detectives do not believe this was a random crime, but are still attempting to determine why the victims were targeted.
Investigators say the Bernert stole money from the home.
The officer who fired the gun will be placed on routine administrative leave pending an investigation.
