An officer-involved shooting that took place in downtown Frederick in May 2025 remains under investigation by the Frederick Police Department.
The incident occurred on Monday, May 12, in the 300 block of North Market Street. Corporal Gregory Morton was approached by a bystander who reported a man experiencing a mental health crisis. The man was armed with a knife and refused to comply with repeated commands to drop the weapon. Corporal Morton discharged his firearm once, striking the individual.
Police administered first aid at the scene until emergency medical personnel arrived. The man was then airlifted to a trauma center for treatment.
Frederick Police Chief Jason Lando, during an interview on WFMD’s “Morning News Express,” explained that it is standard procedure for law enforcement agencies to bring in outside departments to investigate shootings involving officers. “There’s no strict protocol about which agency should handle it. In this case, it made sense for us to investigate since our officers were not otherwise involved, and it occurred within our jurisdiction,” he said.
Chief Lando also addressed the public reaction to the incident on social media, noting that responses tend to be either strongly supportive or highly critical of police. “All we ask is for the public to allow time for a thorough investigation. If mistakes were made, I assure you there will be accountability,” he stated.
When asked why the department’s Crisis Car—a unit specifically trained to respond to mental health emergencies—was not deployed, Chief Lando explained that although helpful in some cases, it isn’t always effective in situations involving an active threat. “There are times when the Crisis Car may assess the situation and determine that a traditional police response is necessary due to the danger involved,” he said.
Prosecutors have since reviewed the case and determined that Corporal Morton’s use of force was justified. No charges will be filed against him.
