BEL AIR, MD – A 41-year-old man was shot after barricading himself for more than two hours armed with a handgun. Police arrived on the 1400 block of Shirley Avenue at around 2:06 pm after receiving a call about an individual inside a residence experiencing a health crisis.
The 911 caller said the man was acting erratic and suffering from delusions. He was also found to have several guns inside the home.
At 4:33 pm, William Lee Hawkins emerged from the home after deputies heard multiple gunshots from inside. Hawkins failed to comply with the police and was shot as he approached the officers with a handgun.
Today, October 27, 2022, Deputies from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) were involved in a shooting in the 1400 block of Shirley Drive in Bel Air.
“Deputies responded and attempted to contact the subject, identified as William Lee Hawkins, age 41. A safe perimeter was established around the home and residents were evacuated while additional support from multiple teams were requested, including the HCSO Special Response Team (SRT), Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT), and the Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit. Prior to their arrival, Deputies already on scene heard gunshots being fired inside the residence,” the Harford County Sheriff’s Office said. “Once CNT Negotiators arrived, they immediately began working with mental health professionals and family members in an attempt to bring the barricade to a peaceful resolution. Phone contact was made with Hawkins by the CNT and conversations continued for nearly an hour.”
He was transported to the hospital where he is listed in stable, but serious condition.