Tyrone Brown, Former Marine, Shot and Killed by Off-Duty Baltimore Police Officer Gahiji Tshamba After Groping His Companion

Former Marine Tyrone Brown shot and killed by off-duty Baltimore police officer, Gahiji Tshamba, after he groped his companion.

Tyrone Brown, a former Marine from Baltimore was shot and killed senselessly by an off-duty Baltimore police officer Gahiji A. Tshamba. According to the Baltimore Sun, Brown, his sister, Chantay Kangalee, and her friend were out taking in the club scene early Saturday morning. He allegedly glanced at a woman in an alley off East Eager Street, put his hands on her rear. Her companion, Officer Tshamba, got into an argument and a physical confrontation with Tyrone Brown after they left the club Eden's Lounge, according to the Baltimore Sun. What happened after he reportedly apologized and tried to walk away is unspeakable. Officer Tshamba, who is black, fired at Brown 13 times from his department-issued Glock handgun.

Brown, struck at 1:30 a.m. by six bullets in the chest and groin, fell to the pavement and died 45 minutes later at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The shooting by Gahiji A. Tshamba, a 15-year veteran of the city police force, has left his commanders publicly questioning whether the Eastern District patrol officer legitimately thought his life was in danger before firing. Source

The officer's actions seems excessive and one has to wonder if his judgment was impaired by alcohol. He could have easily verbally assailed Tyrone Brown for allegedly groping the woman, but to fire so many shots is just reprehensible and was not done in self-defense because the deceased was unarmed.

UPDATE#1:  It seems that Officer Tshamba has had another alcohol-related shooting. Here's an excerpt from the Baltimore Sun:

The 2005 incident occurred at night as Tshamba was leaving a Baltimore bar or restaurant. He did not know the precise location. A group of white men confronted the off-duty officer, who is black, and began shouting racial slurs. At least one man threw a bottle at Tshamba's car, Guglielmi said. At some point, the men struck Tshamba's car with their car and began advancing toward the officer. Guglielmi said Tshamba then identified himself as a police officer and drew his weapon; when the men continued to advance, he shot one of them in the foot. The injury was not life-threatening, and Guglielmi said he was not certain whether more than one shot was fired. Prosecutors and investigators determined that the shooting was justified because Tshamba was being threatened, and no criminal charges were filed, Guglielmi said. However, an internal sanction was entered against Tshamba in his personnel file because he had been drinking. 

UPDATE#2: It seems that Officer Tshamba is missing.  According to the Baltimore Sun, an arrest warrant has been issued for the officer, charging him with first degree murder in the death of Tyrone Brown. As of Friday, his whereabouts were unknown. 


UPDATE#3: Officer Tshamba has surrendered to law enforcement. Now justice can really be served in the horrific murder of Tyrone Brown.