Baltimore Detective Sean Suiter Homicide: $169,000 Rewards Announced For Information On Killer

A Baltimore homicide detective, who was shot in the head by a man who approached him Wednesday afternoon, died Thursday, authorities confirmed.

Police on Thursday identified the officer as Sean Suiter, an 18-year veteran with the Baltimore police department, who joined the homicide unit two years ago. Suiter’s homicide makes him the 309th victim in Baltimore this year, the Baltimore Sun reported. Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, in an email to the department confirmed the news, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Davis said Suiter, 42, died surrounded by his wife, five children and fellow officers at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

“His tragic death will forever impact the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). Each of you go out there and put your lives on the line every single day. The importance of your sacrifice and Sean’s can’t be overstated,” Davis wrote in the email.

Reports stated Baltimore police and their federal partners were still looking for the suspect, a massive manhunt is being carried out and authorities, who had offered $69,000 to anyone with appropriate information on the suspect, increased the reward price to $169,000 after Gov. Larry Hogan announced the state would be adding $100,000 to the reward price.

The suspect was identified as a black male in a black jacket with a white stripe, according to a report published in a Fox-affiliated television station, WBFF Fox 45 News.

Commissioner Davis also said the police had “investigative leads” they are pursuing and requested anyone with information to come forward.

“My best hunch is more than one or two people know or suspect our killer was involved in this yesterday. We’re asking those folks to do some soul searching and pick up the phone and give us a call,” he said.

Police confirmed Wednesday Suiter was shot in a violent section of the Harlem Park neighborhood of West Baltimore while he was investigating another killing, the New York Post reported. A police source, who refused to reveal his identity to the Baltimore Sun as he was not authorized to speak about the case, confirmed Suiter was in the neighborhood trying to find a witness for a pending case when he and another detective came across someone suspicious in a vacant lot in the middle of the 900 block of Bennett Place.

The source said the two detectives had split up to supposedly cover different exits of the block when the shooting occurred.

Speaking about the investigation after the tragic incident, Davis said outside of Maryland Shock Trauma Centre, where Suiter was being treated, “We need to make sure that we collect every bit of evidence and make sure that the shooter is nowhere nearby.”

Mayor Catherine Pugh spoke to the press about Suitor on Thursday and reiterated crime in the city was “out of control”.

“He was well-respected, and he will be very sorely missed by everyone,” she said of Suiter.

Authorities are searching for the person responsible for the crime and Baltimore FBI office asked the public to call at -800-CALL-FBI, police detectives at 410-396-2100, or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7-LOCK-UP. Tips can also be texted to Baltimore police at 443-902-4824.

Suiter's death was the second incident of a police officer getting shot in West Baltimore this month. On Nov. 4, Sgt. Tony Anthony Mason Jr., a District of Columbia police officer who lived in Baltimore, was shot dead in the 2800 block of Elgin Avenue. He was off-duty at the time, The Baltimore Sun reported.