Man shot as he confronted officers with a knife; had made prior suicide attempts
08/22/2014 — Howard County police are releasing the identities of two officers who discharged their weapons when they were confronted by a man with a knife while responding to a suicide-in-progress call. The man was later pronounced dead. Autopsy results are pending.
On Aug. 20, shortly after 1:30 p.m., Police Officer First Class Daniel Young, 33, and Police Officer Lara Bradshaw, 25, responded to the 7600 block of Coachlight Lane, Ellicott City, for a suicide-in-progress call. The officers arrived at the scene, made contact with a family member and entered the residence.
In a bedroom, police located the subject, Darren Friedman, 45, covered in blood with several serious self-inflicted lacerations. As officers entered the room to render aid, the subject confronted them with the knife at which time both officers fired their weapons.
Friedman was flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center where he was pronounced deceased. Family members reported to police that Friedman has attempted suicide in the past.
PFC Young has been with the police department for six years. PO Bradshaw joined the department last year. Both are assigned to a platoon in the Northern District. The officers are on paid administrative leave during an internal affairs investigation, which is standard procedure following a shooting incident.
The Howard County Police Department conducts in-service training with its officers at the academy level and annually to help ensure that officers are prepared to handle people who are dealing with mental health issues. In addition, the department has its own mental health community liaison who works with officers and coordinates resources available to persons with mental health issues. However, in this case, Friedman was severely injured before police arrived and confronted the officers with a knife as they were entering to assist him. Police have had no prior contacts with Friedman.