SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was shot and killed by Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers Tuesday night after allegedly attempting to drag a duty officer with his vehicle following a request for an inspection related to a repair order.
Around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, an individual, later identified as Winfield C. Fisher, 32, of Salisbury, entered the MSP Salisbury barrack and asked the duty officer to check a vehicle repair made after he received a safety equipment repair order. The MSP duty officer went outside to the parking spots in front of the barrack presumably to check Fisher’s repair and sign off on the repair order.
Moments later, the duty officer came back inside and requested the dispatcher call for back-up. As the duty officer returned to Fisher’s vehicle, the dispatcher contacted another trooper who had just left the barrack and that duty officer immediately returned to assist. The details on what happened next are not clear, but it appears the duty officer who was first assisting Fisher with the repair order somehow got in a confrontation with the suspect and was either struck or dragged by Fisher’s vehicle.
The details are preliminary, but it is believed both troopers fired department-issued pistols at the suspect. The duty officer was found lying along the edge of the parking lot near the entrance to Route 13. He had injuries consistent with being struck or dragged by a vehicle.
Meanwhile, Fisher was found in his vehicle about 150 yards north of the barrack on Route 13. His vehicle had struck the center median guardrail on the northbound side of Route 13. EMS personnel responded and transported Fisher and the MSP duty officer to PRMC. Fisher was pronounced dead at the hospital. The duty officer was treated and released. It is uncertain which of the shots fired by the two troopers or how many struck Fisher.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Fisher’s vehicle. MSP crime scene technicians processed the vehicle and the barrack parking lot for evidence. Marijuana was recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded and are conducting the investigation, which is standard procedure in police-involved shootings. The MSP Homicide Unit will be reviewing the evidence developed in the investigation and will present their completed report to the Wicomico State’s Attorney’s Office, which is also standard procedure for police-involved shootings.
Corporal Anthony Meyers is a nine-year veteran with the Maryland State Police. Trooper Jeffrey Wilkins is a three-year veteran. Both have been placed on routine administrative leave. The State Police Internal Affairs Unit will also be conducting an investigation.