Deputy 1st Class Glenn Hilliard
Officer: Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, Deputy First Class Glenn Hilliard
Date: 6/12/2022 Location: Pittsville, MD FACTORS (1,2,9,15,17,21)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Austin Jacob Allen Davidson
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Davidson was on probation for a 2019 armed robbery conviction and wanted for several other crimes since then. / Yes, Davidson was in felony possession of a handgun and wanted on four arrest warrants.
Mental Illness: Unknown.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, Davidson had a recent drug related arrest. / None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/20
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? After deputies failed to find Austin Davidson when looking to arrest him for multiple warrants around 8:30 p.m. on June 12, 2022, Deputy First Class Glenn Hilliard returned to the complex and spotted him.
Actions taken by subject toward police: Davidson failed to comply with Deputy Hilliard’s lawful orders and instead took off running. While Deputy Hilliard was chasing him, Davidson turned and shot at the deputy with a laser-sighted handgun, fatally striking him. With Deputy Hilliard mortally wounded, Davidson fled the area.
Reactions by the police: A multiagency manhunt ensued for Davidson who peacefully surrendered to the authorities and was arrested around two hours later.
How murdered? Deputy Hilliard was fatally shot by a suspect with multiple arrest warrants he had tracked down.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Deputy Hilliard was performing his job and bravely chasing a wanted dangerous suspect, it was the judicial system that failed by letting this convicted felon out instead of keeping him in prison where he belonged.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? At that time of the night, in a wooded area, and with both men running - it would have been very difficult to see that Davidson had a gun in his hand…so Deputy Hilliard would not have used deadly force until it was used against him and too late.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Davidson was captured shortly after the shooting and has been “charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.”
Miscellaneous: In failing to secure even the minimum sentence of 5 years jail upon Davidson’s conviction, Baltimore City State’s Attorney, Marilyn Mosby’s office “failed to do their job -- and unfortunately, now we have a deputy sheriff that’s murdered.”
