Police: Suspect Carjacks Woman With Grandson; Shoots At Fire Commander
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Some scary moments for a Baltimore grandmother who was carjacked at gunpoint in broad daylight. Police say the suspect sent them on a wild chase that could have turned deadly.
We're told the suspect crashed that stolen car, then tried shooting a first responder. There were mangled car parts, scattered on the side of the road, from the twisted crime spree.
It started at around 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Police were called to the scene of a carjacking, on the 1900-block of West Fayette Street.
A 38-year old woman told officers, she was with her 5-month-old grandson when her Chrysler Sebring was stolen.
The victim told police she has parked her on Fayette street. She was taking her grandson out of the car, when the suspect got inside and pointed a gun at her.
The woman grabbed her grandson.
The suspect, 38-year old Michael Awosika sped off, but didn't make it far. He crashed the stolen car into several other vehicles, knocking down a light pole, at the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Pratt Street.
A Baltimore City fire commander who had no idea the car was stolen, saw the crash and ran over to help.
"That's when the suspect got out of the vehicle and fired several shots in his direction," says Detective Jeremy Silbert with Baltimore City Police.
Patrol officers who saw the shooting chased Awosika down and arrested him. They recovered this loaded handgun from the scene.
Some people who live near the crime scene, are not surprised.
"That's not the first time this happened around here. It seems like it's on an every day, or every other day basis. Crime and especially carjacking. It's bad enough we're living in a city with all these murders. You can't come out of your house. You need a bullet proof jacket on," says Larry L. from West Baltimore.
The fire commander, grandmother, and baby are all okay. No one was hurt. Michael Awosika is charged with attempted murder, carjacking, assault, robbery, theft and several gun-related charges.
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