The Baltimore County Police Department confirms the first female line-of-duty death in the Department’s 144-year history.
She is identified as Police Officer First Class A. Sorrells Caprio #5785 of Precinct 8 – Parkville, a nearly 4-year-veteran of the Department.
Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident that killed Officer Caprio yesterday afternoon:
Dawnta Anthony Harris (16) of the 1600 block of Vincent Court, 21217 is charged with 1st Degree Murder and held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center.
– SUSPECT 2 – 17-year-old male, not yet identified, charges pending
– SUSPECT 3 – 16-year-old male, not yet identified, charges pending
– SUSPECT 4 – 15-year-old male, not yet identified, charges pending
The Call for Service
Officer Caprio was the primary officer responding to a call for a suspicious vehicle with multiple suspicious subjects walking around homes in the unit block of Linwen Way in Nottingham, 21236 at 1:58 p.m. A neighbor called 9-1-1 adding that the subjects had broken into a home and that a black Jeep Wrangler appeared to be involved.
Officer Caprio arrived in the area and located the black Jeep Wrangler, following it to the cul-de-sac at the end of Linwen Way. She exited her vehicle and ordered the driver, identified later as Dawnta Harris, to exit the Jeep. Harris began to exit the Jeep, then got back in and quickly accelerated, driving toward and striking Officer Caprio. Neighbors called 9-1-1 reporting that the officer had been struck by a vehicle and may have been shot. One neighbor, a paramedic, ran to the officer’s aid to begin life-saving efforts. Baltimore County Police and Fire Department personnel responded to the scene to aid Officer Caprio, who was transported to MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center with traumatic injuries. She was pronounced deceased at 2:50 p.m. on May 21, 2018.
The preliminary results from an autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner this morning indicate the cause and manner of death to be homicide by traumatic injuries incurred as a result of being struck by the suspect vehicle. No evidence of a gunshot wound was found. Initial reports from the scene were Officer Caprio had been shot.
The Search for Suspects
Harris fled in the Jeep, which was soon reported to have been abandoned in the 9500 block of Dawnvale Road nearby. A description of the fleeing driver was broadcast to officers, who converged on the area. The abandoned Jeep was located, found with a bullet hole in the front windshield. A subject matching the description of the driver was located approximately a block away from the Jeep. After further investigation the subject was identified as the driver who struck Officer Caprio with the Jeep, Dawnta Harris, and arrested. Detectives have confirmed that the bullet hole in the windshield of the Jeep was caused when Officer Caprio fired her service weapon at the driver just before being struck by the Jeep. The Jeep is determined to have been stolen out of Baltimore City, as well as having a stolen tag belonging to another vehicle attached at the rear.
Police began a coordinated effort to surround and search the neighborhoods and wooded areas nearby looking for the additional three suspects. Numerous patrol and support unit officers from the Parkville and White Marsh Precincts responded, as well our Tactical team, K-9 teams, and air support. Additionally, other agencies responded and assisted, including Baltimore City Police, Maryland State Police, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (US Department of Justice, ATF), and Homeland Security. Belair Road remained closed between Forge and Ebenezer roads, along with a number of area neighborhood roads, for an extensive period of time. Residents were asked to shelter in place when an additional 9-1-1 call for an armed subject was received in the 9400 block of Belair Road. Four elementary schools were also placed on alert status, delaying dismissal for hours, as officers continued to investigate and search the area. The armed man was eventually located and determined to be a frightened resident, who was released.
Investigative efforts throughout the night led detectives from the Baltimore County Police Homicide Unit to two separate locations in Baltimore City where the remaining three suspects were believed to be sheltering. All three suspects were located and arrested in the early morning hours and are awaiting formal charges and bail hearings.
Officer Caprio
Officer Caprio was a 29-year-old woman who loved her family, her husband, and her dog, Doodle. She loved the outdoors, mountain biking on the new bike she recently bought, and kayaking with her husband. She was a dog lover, making sure to have a leash and dog treats on hand when she went out on patrol – just in case. She and her husband were scheduled to begin a week of vacation this weekend to celebrate their third wedding anniversary and both of their upcoming birthdays.
Officer Caprio graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Exercise Science in 2010 with the intention of becoming a physical therapist, but found her true passion became police work. She graduated from the Baltimore County Police Department’s Police Academy on December 23, 2014 as a member of our 140th recruit class. Officer Caprio’s supervisor, Lieutenant Chemelli, stated today, “It was an honor to be her supervisor. I can personally say that she had a work ethic like no other. She truly loved being a police officer and helping others – this was her passion and definitely her calling. She made the ultimate sacrifice doing a job that she loved. She will be greatly missed by our shift and will forever be our hero.” A sentiment resonating with all of her police family today.
Booking photo of Dawnta Anthony Harris:
