Suspect Out Of Hospital, Now In Jail
Flags Lowered To Honor Fallen Officer
POSTED: 8:48 am EDT June 22,
2005
UPDATED: 6:43 pm EDT June 22,
2005
PALMER PARK, Md. -- The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Prince George's County police officer is now out of the hospital and in jail.Police in Prince George's County have identified Robert Mark Billett, 43, of Bladensburg, as the suspect accused of shooting a police officer Tuesday.
Billett has been charged with murder and various other charges. During Tuesday's shootout, Billett was shot in the arm, leg and side. He is hospitalized in stable condition.Some flags in Prince George's County will be flown at half-staff for one week in honor of the police officer who was killed in Tuesday's shootout. Cpl. Steven Gaughan passed away late Tuesday afternoon, hours after he was shot while making a traffic-stop in Laurel, Md.
County Executive Jack Johnson has ordered all state and county flags lowered at Prince George's government buildings. He's also encouraging private businesses to do the same.On Tuesday night, friends and coworkers held a candlelight vigil to remember Gaughan as a fallen hero.The 41-year-old officer was a 15-year veteran of the force. He was married and had two adopted kids.
Chopper4 Images Prince George's County Police Officer Shot
At the vigil Tuesday, one friend said Gaughan was a wonderful man, a wonderful Christian, a wonderful father, a wonderful husband and a wonderful friend. She went on to say, "He was just thoughtful and caring and always looking out for everybody else and he will be truly missed."Maj. Tom Connolly, Gaughan's commanding officer, said he was shot after he and three other officers pulled over a suspicious car about 11 a.m. He said one of the car's occupants bailed out and Gaughan gave chase."The vehicle pulled over into the apartment complex at South Laurel Drive and Route 197, where the passenger immediately exited the vehicle quickly and ran around the back of the building," Connolly said. "Officer Gaughan pursued the suspect and at some point behind the building there were gunshots fired and the officer was struck."Gaughan was flown to the Prince George's Hospital Center, where he later died.In addition to Billett, two other suspects are in police custody.All three suspects are facing criminal charges. The mother of one of the suspects, Roland Patterson, said her son is innocent."And if he's guilty he needs to pay the price," Nadine Patterson said. "But I can tell you, I bet my life on it, my son is innocent."Through his actions, Connolly said Gaughan has helped keep the residents of Prince George's County safe."Obviously we interrupted somebody who was armed and who was willing to shoot," Connolly said. "I'd like to think that by taking that person into custody, that perhaps a citizen didn't get robbed or shot or hurt or killed later on because of his actions, so he's a hero."
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At the vigil Tuesday, one friend said Gaughan was a wonderful man, a wonderful Christian, a wonderful father, a wonderful husband and a wonderful friend. She went on to say, "He was just thoughtful and caring and always looking out for everybody else and he will be truly missed."Maj. Tom Connolly, Gaughan's commanding officer, said he was shot after he and three other officers pulled over a suspicious car about 11 a.m. He said one of the car's occupants bailed out and Gaughan gave chase."The vehicle pulled over into the apartment complex at South Laurel Drive and Route 197, where the passenger immediately exited the vehicle quickly and ran around the back of the building," Connolly said. "Officer Gaughan pursued the suspect and at some point behind the building there were gunshots fired and the officer was struck."Gaughan was flown to the Prince George's Hospital Center, where he later died.In addition to Billett, two other suspects are in police custody.All three suspects are facing criminal charges. The mother of one of the suspects, Roland Patterson, said her son is innocent."And if he's guilty he needs to pay the price," Nadine Patterson said. "But I can tell you, I bet my life on it, my son is innocent."Through his actions, Connolly said Gaughan has helped keep the residents of Prince George's County safe."Obviously we interrupted somebody who was armed and who was willing to shoot," Connolly said. "I'd like to think that by taking that person into custody, that perhaps a citizen didn't get robbed or shot or hurt or killed later on because of his actions, so he's a hero."
Copyright 2005 by nbc4.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.









