Neighbors speak out about deputy involved shooting
Neighbors on the 700 block on Dennis Street say they were shaken out of their sleep by gun shots.
One of them tells 47ABC, “It was the same gun boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.”
Chris Kenney, another neighbor says, “The police got up and immediately shot him five times.”
Kenney lives in the house behind where the shooting apparently happened. He tells 47 ABC he watched the incident unfold from his window.
The Wicomico County Sheriff’s office says around one forty- five Tuesday morning, thirty-five year old deputy Benjamin Jones was on routine patrol in the neighborhood. He was there because deputies had reportedly gotten a call the day before about threats to quote, “shoot up” a house on Olivia Street.
Olivia Street is a block over from Dennis Street. Apparently Deputy Jones spotted Fednel Rhinvil and another man walking down Dennis Street. When he attempted to stop them, one man did, but Rhinvil apparently didn’t and began running.
The deputy then allegedly chased after him and caught him as he scaled a fence. Investigators say a fight broke out between Rhinvil and the deputy, and apparently the deputy got pinned to the ground.
Greg Shipley, a Maryland State Police spokesman goes on, “As the deputy attempted to escape, he saw the individual pull a pistol, actually a revolver from his pants. The deputy at that point was in fear for his life.”
Once the deputy began to fear for his life, he allegedly fired with his department issued pistol. However, friends of Rhinvil who actually refer to him as “Zo,” feel the shooting was completely unnecessary. They described him as a quiet guy that kept to himself and cared for his five children and girlfriend. Jamal Church says he was just “hanging out” with him the day before the shooting.
Jamal Church, a close friend of Rhinvil says, “It hit close to home for me. He was like one of my brothers. It’s a shame.”
Investigators claim the deputy shot Rhinvil in self-defense and expressed those thoughts at a press conference held at the Maryland State Police Barracks Tuesday afternoon.
Rhinvil’s body is now at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore. 47ABC has been told that Deputy Benjamin Jones was treated at Peninsula Regional Medical Center for a broken finger and is on administrative leave as the investigation unfolds.
The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is handling the case because the incident involves a Wicomico County deputy.
If you witnessed this shooting or have any information which might help investigators, call either 410- 548-4891 or 410- 749-3101.
